Mumford & Sons have shared a new single, ‘The Banjo Song’ – you can listen to it below.
The song marks the third preview of the London band’s sixth studio album, ‘Prizefighter’, which is released on Friday February 20 via Island. Pre-order/pre-save here.
Co-written by Aaron Dessner of The National and Jon Bellion, the bittersweet track begins with the verse: “On the dark side of the Earth/ Where the creatures are out/ I’m a man on the moon/ Midnight ‘round my neck/ And sunrise on my breath/ I still wait for you.”
Later, frontman Marcus Mumford asks: “Well, hey/ Did you call, did you fall, do you need someone?/ Do you need someone?” He then admits: “And, hey/ I’m a mess myself but I think I could be someone/ If you need someone.”
The singer-songwriter goes on to assure that “things don’t have to fall apart“, despite ongoing struggles. He sings: “Tell a lie/ See a light/ Burn a bridge/ It’ll be alright.”
Mumford & Sons had previewed ‘The Banjo Song’ on social media last night (Thursday January 8), saying: “We can’t wait for you guys to hear it properly in [its] full sonic glory.”
The track comes on the heels of previous single ‘Rubber Band Man’ (featuring Hozier) and the ‘Prizefighter’ title track.
Following on from last year’s ‘RUSHMERE’, Mumford & Sons’ new album was produced by The National‘s Aaron Dessner at Long Pond Studios in New York. It also features guest appearances from Gracie Abrams, Chris Stapleton and former NME cover star Gigi Perez.
‘Prizefighter’ was recently featured among NME’s most anticipated album releases of 2026. Speaking to NME in November, Marcus Mumford said the LP “elevates” the band’s sound from ‘RUSHMERE’.
“I feel like we’re in our prime and that we’re writing the best songs we’ve ever written,” he continued. “I don’t say that about every record, and I really feel strongly about this one.”
He added: “We spent time with Pharrell Williams who really unlocked me as a writer; he really picked my lock and opened me up. Then it was just the perfect timing to walk into a room where Aaron Dessner just happened to be next door.
“[…] Suddenly we were starting another record and the songs just poured out in a way that they haven’t since the first record. There was just this spirit of freedom, creativity, curiosity and trust amongst the three of us with Aaron as our producer.”
Mumford & Sons will headline London’s BST Hyde Park on Saturday July 4, with support from The War On Drugs and a full line-up to be announced. It’ll mark a decade since the group last topped the bill at the summer concert series in 2016.
“It was one of my favourite shows ever, actually,” Mumford recalled to NME. “We’ve been gagging to do it again when the time was right, and now’s the time. Playing that place in our home town – it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Meanwhile, Mumford recently featured on a reworked version of Divorce’s ‘Antarctica’ from their debut album ‘Drive To Goldenhammer’.
