Mumford & Sons Depart Big Easy Station for Night One of Collaboration on Resurrected Railroad Revival Tour

On Sunday, August 3, Mumford & Sons resurrected the Railroad Revival Tour, a concert concept originated in 2011 as a tribute to troubadour Woody Guthrie, by hitting the tracks with a plethora of talent for four consecutive stops at outdoor venues near locomotive travel hubs. The event was built around the folk rock ensemble’s catalog of songs, and a house band featuring Nathaniel Rateliff, Trombone Shorty, Madison Cunningham, Lucius, Chris Thile, Celisse,  Lief Vollebekk, Ketch Secor and more. 

The night set course with a three-track offering of Mumford & Sons’ music, setting the tone for the fan favorites and newer material from their original bank of material. The list included a pair of fan favorites from their commercial peak, “Babel” and “Little Lion Man,” before referencing their latest studio effort on the title track off Rushmere. Next, they brought out a participant in the 2011 concert series, Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor, who added to “Lover of the Light.” 

The main band’s ensuing sit-in brought big moments from Celisse and Trombone Shorty during the Wilder Mind featured, “Ditmas.” Thile took the spotlight during the Rushmere cut, “Truth,” swapping prominent placements for Madison Cunningham’s arrival on “The Wolf.” Keeping with pulls from Mumford & Sons’ catalog, “I Will Wait” came next and featured an instrumental push a la Shorty, before a cover of Bill Withers’ “Use Me” was accentuated by Celisse. 

“Caroline” received a big band treatment and kept up the whole team sweep with the arrival of “Awake My Soul.” Ultimately, during the final segment of songs that included all billed players, featured guest Lainey Wilson showed up and helped on Shania Twain’s highly regarded, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” 

During traditional “House of the Rising Sun,” Celisse performed a hair-raising solo, before all attention was placed on “Wagon Wheel,” followed by Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City,” and a cover of The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends,” featuring unannounced guest Maggie Rogers. 

Notably, the original 2011 endeavor was recorded and turned into Big Easy Express, a documentary directed by Emmett Malloy. The film debuted at SXSW in 2012 and won a Grammy in 2013. 

Railroad Revival Tour pulls into South Carolina this evening. Tickets remain on sale.