Exploding out of the indie rock scene, UK quartet Mumford & Sons found a niche on the strength of soaring melodies, harmonies and old-fashioned backwoods crescendos. In 2007 the band, made up of singer and multi-instrumentalist Marcus Mumford, Winston Marshall, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane, formed and began playing folk clubs in London. By 2008 they landed a slot at the Glastonbury Festival in advance of the release of a self-titled EP.

After landing deals with Island Records in the UK and Glassnote Records in the United States, Mumford & Sons released their full-length debut, 2010's Sigh No More, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit singles "The Cave" and "Little Lion Man." The album earned the group three GRAMMY nominations for Best New Artist in 2010, and Record Of The Year and Best Rock Performance for "The Cave" in 2011.

Released in September 2012, Mumford & Sons' sophomore set, Babel, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 600,000 units sold, marking the largest first-week sales total of the year at the time. The album garnered the band six GRAMMY nominations for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards, including Album Of The Year and Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for "I Will Wait."