Mumford & Sons’ upcoming Railroad Revival Tour includes a stop in Simpsonville at CCNB Amphitheatre with special guest Darius Rucker on Aug. 4.
The tour was originally scheduled that day at Spartanburg’s Piedmont Interstate Fair. On July 14, the group announced the venue change.
“The CCNB Amphitheatre proved to be a better fit for Mumford & Sons & Friends concert,” OneSpartanburg Director of Communications Zach Fox said. “We hope fans from across Spartanburg County will support the performance coming to the Upstate on August 4.”
The Railroad Revival Tour also includes stops at Champions Square on Aug. 3 in New Orleans with special guest Lainey Wilson; Allianz Amphitheater in Richmond, Va., on Aug. 5; and Champlain Valley Expo in Burlington, Vt., on Aug. 7. Special guests for the shows in Richmond and Burlington will be announced at a later date.
The four-date tour features Mumford & Sons alongside an all-star traveling house band on all stops. In 2011, Mumford & Sons held their first Railroad Revival Tour featuring the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show, making six stops.
That tour was chronicled in the documentary film “Big Easy Express,” which won Best Long Form Music Video at the 55th annual Grammy Awards.
Mumford & Sons, a British folk rock band, formed in 2007.
The group has released five studio albums, with the latest, “Rushmere,” released in March. The album bears the name of the pond in London where band members Ben Lovett, Ted Dwane and Marcus Mumford spent time together.
Marcus Mumford, the band's lead singer, told The Post and Courier he’s excited to bring the tour to South Carolina. The interview was conducted before the band announced its venue change.
“Our experiences on the first Railroad Revival Tour a few years back were great with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show meant a lot,” Mumford said. “Old Crow Medicine Show showed us how you could play acoustic instruments like rock and roll instruments. Old Crow was one of the biggest inspirations of my life. They are one of my favorite bands.”
Mumford said what he enjoys most is performing in smaller towns that encapsulate American life. One of his all-time favorite shows was performed years ago in Troy, Ohio.
“I just love going deep into places across the country,” Mumford said. “I am really stoked to come to South Carolina and bring a great collaboration of songwriters with us on the train.”
The Railroad Revival Tour allows the band to travel by train to each tour stop. Mumford said it’s going to be a unique experience. The train parked at the station will allow anyone to board and participate in an open mic event before and after the main show.
Mumford said the four-tour stop will have a different set list each night, with music from all of the band’s five albums.
He said he’s thankful to be back on tour after a long hiatus.
“I think we are in this period of our life as a band where we just feel this depth of gratitude for getting to do what we do,” Mumford said. “In the craziness of it all, you can forget to be present, and what a privilege it is just to play music for an audience. We are bursting with new songs and look forward to touring again.”