In 2011, Mumford & Sons were the first band that I truly got excited about listening to since Coldplay in 1999 and before that, U2 in 1983. I lucked out in getting tickets to see them at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre in October of my discovery year, and I was hooked after their performance. Their blend of foot-stomping, sing-along tunes and the often dark and melancholy lyrics of their debut album “Sigh No More” got under my skin, and my love affair continued with the release of “Babel” last year.
The passport pages.
The band started to play live again this year, with a series of concerts in small towns across North America that featured many other groups they were inspired by and felt a kinship with. Last week, they brought their Gentlemen of the Road Stopover to the small Ontario town of Simcoe, close to Lake Erie. The idea is to bring the shows to areas that have experienced economic difficulties with the hopes of leaving a legacy behind so that the towns can benefit from a tourist boost after the festival event. Simcoe, once a rich tobacco farming community, has been hard hit by cultural changes, and was delighted to play host to the group of musical artists that came to town.
The entrance gates to the Simcoe Fairgrounds in Norfolk County, Ontario, as the crowds leave after the two-day festival.
The full festival line-up.
We drove down on Friday afternoon, and despite the long journey hampered by the afternoon cottage and commuter rush-hour traffic out of Toronto, we managed to hear Phosphorescent, Dan Mangan, and headliners Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. It was the last band that we were especially interested in, but found all the acts worthy of a serious listen. As well, the Simcoe Fairgrounds provided a visual feast for the senses: food trucks offered pizza, tacos and burritos, along with English pub fair, poutine, and the more traditional ribs and burgers. The bar was generous, and we were delighted to see a fresh water station for patrons to refill their bottles at no charge. The portable toilets were clean and plentiful, although they could have facilitated the flow of patrons with distinct entry and exit points. There was plenty of room to wander around away from the main stage, and people were polite and friendly throughout. One of the cute gimmicks was the GOTR passport, which you could get stamped with band and concession logos if you spotted the volunteers who had them; it was also possible to line up at the stamping stations, which gave you time in line to socialise and meet others. Those we spoke to ranged from just nearby to as far away as Australia, and it was great fun chatting with them and comparing notes on crowd favourites. On the way to and from the venue, pianos had been left in the pedestrian zones for people to tinker with, and it was a whimsical detail that appealed to me as we walked by.
One of the pianos along the way, ready for play.
I also loved the Strong Arm meeting point, which was announced as the place “to find the boyfriend or girlfriend you did not intentionally mean to lose.”
The Strong Arm at night.
Saturday was a more crowded, hot weather day. The sun shone where the clouds had covered the Friday skies, and it was sometimes uncomfortable struggling through clusters of people, or waiting over an hour at the food truck lineups for a meal. However, the same friendly atmosphere prevailed and people continued to show considerate, polite, and patient behaviour. The crowd was more diverse in age, with families and older adults present along with the twenty-something hipsters and hippies that had largely comprised the Friday audience. We missed the first three acts of the day (Bear’s Den, Justin Townes Earle, The Vaccines) due to our commute from Toronto, but caught Hey Rosetta!, Old Crow Medicine Show, and the headlining Mumford & Sons, who were scheduled at sundown. We liked Hey Rosetta!, but it was the last two bands that really left a lasting impression. Both had the audience stomping, clapping, dancing, and singing along to so many of their numbers.
For me, though, as a Mumford & Sons fan, they were the band I came to see. They delivered almost two hours of non-stop music from their two albums, and I loved the string of patio lights that ran from over the top of the stage to the sound board, creating a backyard atmosphere for those who had come to party with them. And most were doing just that, singing to every word of every song as they danced and made celebratory noise for the length of the set. There was a moment for the flicking of lighters, and another instance of quiet listening as the second encore brought an acoustic version of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire”, and then an acapella rendition of “Sister.” The grand finale was a touching tribute to local boy Rick Danko of The Band, and all the performing bands from the festival came out to join Mumford & Sons for a fantastic cover of “The Weight.” Marcus Mumford shared his lead vocals with Dan Mangan and others, and the audience of 35 000 strong cheered loudly in appreciation of the two-day event after they were through.
All in all, beyond the spectacular musical performances, I will remember this weekend for the camaraderie between the festival-goers, as well as for the gentle ambience that permeated the venue for those who attended, worked, or volunteered their services. The town of Simcoe worked very hard and were excellent, well-organised, and friendly hosts, and the fans well-behaved and kind to one another. Spending the time listening to all these bands made me realise that we have entered a new golden age of singer-songwriters, and that the folk rock scene is rich, diverse, and thriving. Long may these musicians continue to do what they love, so that we can see and hear them for years to come.