Mumford and Sons Bring Indie Rock to President Obama's State Dinner

Mumford and Sons Bring Indie Rock to President Obama’s State Dinner

2012-03-15

Story by Anne Erickson

London folk-rock quartet among the talent at last night’s White House event

The White House hosted a State Dinner Performance on the South Lawn last night (March 14), featuring live performances by famed alternative rockers Mumford and Sons and R&B performer John Legend. The performance followed a special State Dinner for President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron. The prime minister personally selected the London folk-rock quartet for the festivities. President Obama invited Legend to play.

The theme of the décor for the United Kingdom State Dinner was “America’s Backyard,” playing off the idea of Americans gathering in their backyards and entertaining their best family members and friends in the summertime. The theme was designed to honor the British-American “special relationship” by accenting American and British gardens. The night, indeed, was a big backyard gathering, with hundreds of attendees sitting back with the President and Prime Minister and taking in the live entertainment.

Amid the 360 famous attendees who held special “golden tickets” to the dinner included actor George Clooney, billionaire Warren Buffett, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, businessman Richard Branson, Apple’s Jony Ive, fashion’s Anna Wintour, movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and Rory McIlory, to name some.

In other Mumford and Sons news, the group along with Old Crow Medicine Show and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes will celebrate the premiere screening of a documentary about the threesome’s original, week-long tour via railroad from San Francisco to New Orleans with a performance at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, Saturday (March 17). Find more information on the show, which will be free, on the festival’s official site.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.