Arts writer
THE Willowbridge Barnyard in Durbanville will offer something completely different this month. A feel-good banjo, fiddle and double bass led, bluegrass influenced rock show, The Mumford Revolution, will be staged from April 17 to 19. Here the spotlight will fall on the folk, Celtic and country inspired music of Mumford & Sons, as the show celebrates the origins and emulators of this uplifting, stomping, banjo-infused musical trend which has stormed the charts over the past few years.
Artists such as James Blunt, The Lumineers and Phillip Phillips have been inspired by the Mumford sound.
Presented by Centrestage, the seven-piece line-up consists of Wayne Kallis, Aston Wylie and Hugo Kleinhans on vocals, keyboards and guitar, Gino Fabbri on drums, Andrew Warneke on double bass, with Colin Lyall on banjo and Nicholas Fidler fiddle.
The Mumford Revolution will journey through American country bluegrass and Irish Celtic influences to the Mumford & Sons hipster phenomenon we know today. Songs such as James Blunt’s Bonfire Heart, One Direction’s Story of my Life, Daughtry’s Long live rock and roll, One Republic’s Counting Stars, American Author’s Best Day of My Life and Avicii’s Hey Brother, Wake Me Up and These Days, as well as Matthew Mole’s Take Yours I’ll Take Mine and Jeremy Loop’s Skinny Jeans all make it into the show by virtue of their driving kick-drum sound and Celtic overtones.
The Revolution also takes in the likes of the Charlie Daniels band, as well as The Dubliners and a selection of Irish sing-alongs. A selection of popular Mumford and Sons songs, such as Babel, I Will Wait, Little Lion Man and The Cave will also be featured.
Colin Lyall will recreate the classic banjo sound, whose resurgence has become so popular of late. “The vibe created at the show really is extraordinary, with audiences young and old going crazy and getting into the music like never before!”, says show creator and Centrestage director Gary Hemmings.
Longtime Mumford fan Aston Wylie is particularly excited, as the Mumford sound played an influential role in the development of his own vocal, keyboards and guitar style.
“I really love the feel-good, upbeat vibe this genre of music gives off. It’s got a happy-go-lucky feel to it and gets people moving. You definitely won’t be sitting still in your seat at this show,” adds Wylie.
“Country and bluegrass music are two of my favourite genres and I have had a ball playing these fantastic songs live with such an amazing group of musicians”, Kleinhans adds.
“This show has a very different energy to performances we have done before. I like that we are playing a selection of great new songs which are currently on the charts. It is interesting to see how positively the older folks are reacting to the vibe of the newer material we are playing – and how the youngsters recognize where the new style comes from and how much they love the older repertoire at the same time”, enthuses Kallis.
Mumford Revolution can be enjoyed by young and old, hipsters and hillbillies alike.
Friday and Saturday’s shows start at 8pm and Sunday’s show is at 2pm.
l Tickets: R140. Book: 021 914 8375, www.barnyardtheatres.co.za and click on the Cape Town link. To see a teaser: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vDYFfux6NM