Mumford & Sons ‘Prize Fighter’ Australian Tour @ Qudos Bank Arena Sydney 29/04/2026.

Got my knuckle dusters on my MMA Singlet on and I’ve downed a few Red Bulls, I’m ready to tear it up in this hectic mosh like a true Prize Fighter! In all seriousness though, I’m gonna die of laughter if there’s even a single crowd surfer here tonight, for the mighty return of UK Folk champions and viral hit bringers Mumford & Sons take over Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on their ‘Prize Fighter’ tour. As much as I’d absolutely love to witness these guys trying to start a circle pit or something insane like that, and again would probably die from hysterical laughter, I somehow don’t think the fans eager to fill the venue like bats out of hell would be enthusiastic about that concept.

I’m regrettably not too familiar with the bands latest album ‘Prize Fighter’, so it’s not until the song playing stops and the audience apparently clap and cheers for the song that just played over the speakers, that I realise oh, bother, no Brendan, that was the band playing the opening song off ‘Prize Fighter’ titled ‘Here’. How did I miss that? Well ‘Here is quite a calm relaxing song and is quite beautiful, but there was no energy to life up the atmosphere, the audience weren’t making a big fuss over it and there wasn’t really anything going on as far as the lighting or anything on stage, so definitely wasn’t a suitable opening song for the show in my honest opinion.

The follow up song ‘Babel’ was more like it! It’s with this song choice and the quick high energy chat from the band beforehand saw the crowds energy awaken. This plus the subtle complementive lighting with the songs’ lively stomping beat, quick rhythmic patterns on the acoustic guitar or banjo(I’m not quite sure which) adds to this energy.

What’s also very curious and I feel risky for a band to do, is whipping out a massive hit so early in the set. I mean, I’m all for going big or going home and all, but you don’t wanna blow your load too soon. Mumford & Sons flop out their massive hit ‘I Will Wait’ in at #3 slot in the set. This does kind of work, as it erupts the atmospheric energy sky high and gets everyone singing and dancing along and unison.

Now enough of my fighting/boxing puns and dick jokes… it’s too hard to keep it up… instead it’s time for a stiff drink.

When I hear all the exquisite musical layers, textures and emotions in the folk music that Mumford & Sons encompass and serve up neatly at the show, I’m reminded of tasting and enjoying different types of whiskey.

For starters, the opening song ‘Here’ surprising me was like someone pouring me a dram and setting it down in front of me without me realising… this happens often seeing as I’m blind. The second song is when you pick up the glass and inhale all the rich aromas, and the third, is when all those flavours hit your pallet exciting your senses.

All the sounds offered tonight include crisp fruit tones of acoustic guitar and banjo, drawing the main focus on the surface. What I love about Mumford & Sons and their performance tonight, is how they play the banjo which in itself isn’t the most common instrument in main stream music these days, and how the band play it in such a way that makes me wonder at times if it’s actually unique playing on an acoustic guitar.

In songs like ‘The Banjo Song’ and ‘Rubber Band Man’ we’re served delightful major-tones of sweet caramel to lift the soul and bring a happier vibe to the mix tonight, so as to not get too caught up in the emotional smokey layers in songs like ‘White Blank Page’ and ‘Believe’ with it’s smooth violins, which I believe are played tonight on a keyboard on stage.

Also in songs like ‘Badlands’ the band add backing vocalists, female if I’m not mistaken, and along with the songs’ delicate piano melody is like a whiskey that’s been matured in a bourbon cask to give it a unique blend.

We even get a few songs played acoustically with a smaller selection of band members, at the back of the standing crowd, on a small stage near the mixing desk to cleanse the palate which is a nice little interlude, but luckily doesn’t drag out for too long making you crave more of the rich flavours offered so far.

All of these flavours tonight have been housed in a beautifully crafted crystal glass of no fewer than 9 members on stage my friend tells me. From banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, double bass, a horn section trio, drums, keyboards and of course the smooth woodsy vocals of Markus Mumford holding all the flavours throughout the one hour and 45 minute set. Luckily too, the sound mix is very loud of course, like the alcoholic kick of a drink, but it’s mixed well resonating throughout the venue, highlighting each element individually for the maximum enjoyment. This is done without adding too much harsh bite like a cheaper Johnnie Walker Red Label.

Of course you’d expect the bands’ career defining hit ‘Little Lion Man’ to be the bands’ grand finale right? That’s what the venue seems to think too, the venue climaxes in singing and more dancing then ever before in the set, but when the audience go wild at the songs’ conclusion the band have to tell everyone that they’ve got one more song, ‘Conversation With Myself. This is a little bit like the defining flavours of the drink slowly fading on the palate  as the last of the drink is consumed.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the show with all its unique flavours and emotions from start to finish. It was performed absolutely brilliantly I can’t fault that. I’m surprised there wasn’t any confetti cannons or big backdrop screens or something that further complement the music and lighting they had, but that’s splitting hairs to be honest. I did think the set was quite surprising with opening and closing the set with how they did, and placing ‘I Will Wait’ so early in the set, but it did kind of work on the whole and I’m very glad I was able to attend the show.

Until next time..