The first night of a tour always carries a bit of chaos and curiosity, and for Mumford and Sons kicking off the Prizefighter world tour in Melbourne, you could feel that buzz in the room before anyone even walked on stage.

Hudson Freeman opened things solo with just a guitar and a voice that did more than enough. No fuss, no band, just really clean, honest vocals that settled the small early crowd in nicely.

Folk Bitch Trio were next, and it was one of those sets you appreciate more the longer you sit with it. The harmonies were genuinely stunning, tight and effortless, but the energy stayed pretty mellow the whole way through. Beautiful to listen to, just not quite the spark you usually want before a headline act. Still, hard to fault how good they sounded.

Being the first show of the Prizefighter tour, this was the first chance to see how this new era of Mumford and Sons actually lands live and to unveil a new setlist. Opening with “Run Together”, they wasted no time getting into it, announcing “Melbourne, we didn’t come here to fuck around” before launching into “I Will Wait”. From that moment, the place was properly awake.

Prizefighter only dropped in February, and already the new tracks feel right at home. Matt Corby joined them on stage for “Here”, which was a real highlight, especially given that his own album just debuted at No 1 on our ARIA charts. “Rubber Band Man”, “Alley Cat”, and “Badlands” all hit hard live, with a bit more bite than on the record. You could tell the band were keen to prove these songs belong alongside the older stuff.

And speaking of the older stuff, “The Cave” was massive. Easily the loudest crowd moment of the night. Everyone on their feet, singing every word like it hadn’t left their rotation in over a decade.

One of the best moments came when Marcus took off on a full lap of Rod Laver Arena during a song, properly sprinting up the stairs to the back rows. Not a token jog either, he went for it. It felt spontaneous and a bit chaotic, which is exactly what you want on night one of a tour.

After much footy chat and banter, they moved to the B stage for a stripped-back set that slowed things down in the most beautiful way. “Awake My Soul” in that setting was something special. There were very few phones out, too, which was really refreshing to see. They brought the energy straight back after that with “The Banjo Song” getting things moving again before closing out with “Little Lion Man”, which turned the whole arena into one big, bouncing sing-along.

For a band with plenty of slower, more reflective songs, this was a show brimming with big energy. The harmonies were as sharp as ever, the vocals didn’t miss a beat, and the lighting and stage design added to the intimate atmosphere, with fairy lights above the arena and LED signs floating above them, casting a warm glow. I left this show feeling an immense sense of joy- it truly felt like it ticked all the boxes and gave me exactly what I wanted from a Mumford and Sons show- all the hits, the best of the new stuff, and just so much fun. The Prizefighter Tour is off to a really strong start, with a great setlist that’ll please fans of their older material just as much as people who are digging the new album.

Mumford & Sons play again in Melbourne tonight before heading to Brisbane and Sydney — head HERE  for ticketing information.

All photos from Eloise Coomber – you can see more photos of the night HERE

Reviewer attended 24.04.26