Mumford & Sons delivered a magnetic and emotional performance at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on October 19, 2025, making it a night to remember for fans and new listeners alike. The show started with a bang — the premiere of a brand new song, “Run Together,” sent a jolt of anticipation through the crowd and set the stage for an energetic 21-song journey into the band’s past and present.
Following the adrenaline rush of “Run Together,” frontman Marcus Mumford ignited the arena with a fiery “Babel,” pushing his vocals to the limit while the audience sang along at full volume. An early set highlight was “Little Lion Man,” so beloved that, for a moment, it felt like the room could have exploded in satisfied bliss had the band ended there — a testament to the song’s staying power.
Hilariously, Marcus quipped about the band’s absence from Pittsburgh before leading a crowd-wide “happy birthday” shoutout; as someone celebrating a birthday that night, it felt like a personal note from the stage. I’ll forgive the oversight of a cake with 42 candles. (Or at least a card, gentlemen?)
No moment in the show matched the spontaneous joy of seeing the core members charge through the crowd to a B-stage by the soundboard, dispensing high fives and even hugs along the way. The intimate setup for “After the Storm” — a song not played live in over a decade — was beyond a bucket list moment for devoted fans, especially for those who, like me, found themselves just steps away from their favorite song’s acoustic rebirth. The switcheroo tease of “Feel the Tide” before performing “Guiding Light” kept the set unpredictable and engaging.
As a fan who first saw Mumford & Sons knowing none of their songs but left swept up by the warmth of their music and community, it’s a pleasure every time their set leans heavily into the 2009 debut album, ‘Sigh No More.’ Their early work, blending banjo, kick drum, and folk drive, set a bar that few could rival — ‘Sigh No More’ and ‘Babel’ remain foundational, both for the band and for modern Americana revivalists. The night’s setlist was a treasure trove of these classics, and the crowd responded in kind.
The expanded touring lineup filled sonic gaps, but there’s a lingering sense of loss from the departure of “Country” Winston Marshall, whose banjo work was irreplaceable; still, the show never missed a beat. Ted Dwane’s bass was thunderous throughout, paired with criminally underrated harmonies and his array of lovable facial expressions — the man deserves a camera on him at all times! Ben Lovett, the band’s secret weapon, leapt between keyboards and guitar, elevating songs like “Lover of the Light” and “Ghosts That We Knew” with poise and flair.
The closing stretch sprinted from the haunting “White Blank Page” to feverish set staples “The Cave,” “Rubber Band Man,” and “The Wolf.” While the end felt anticlimactic for some — “I Will Wait” and “Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels)” left a few murmurs — the night’s energy and catharsis were undeniable. Mumford & Sons, still champions of community and sing-alongs, proved that even as lineups shift and new tracks debut, their live shows remain a celebration for fans of all ages.
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