Mumford And Sons Bring Hozier, Aaron Dessner and Sierra Ferrell to SNL

mumford and sons made their fourth appearance on Saturday Night Live on Feb. 28, performing two songs from their new album Prizefighter with surprise guests Hozier, co-producer Aaron Dessner and singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell.

Mumford And Sons open SNL set with 'Rubber Band Man'

The British trio opened the set with "Rubber Band Man, " a track from Prizefighter that features Irish musician Hozier and was co-written by Brandi Carlile. Aaron Dessner joined onstage; in one version of the performance he played electric guitar while Hozier emerged from side stage to sing his guest parts. Hozier’s appearance was his first major outing since wrapping the Unreal Unearth tour in October 2025.

Sierra Ferrell and Aaron Dessner join for 'Here'

For their second number, the band played "Here, " the opening track of Prizefighter. Chris Stapleton sings on the studio version of the song; on the SNL performance Dessner and Sierra Ferrell joined Mumford & Sons, with Ferrell covering Stapleton’s part onstage.

Band members, sketches and a secret warm-up show

Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane also appeared in an office-themed sketch during the episode and performed a short, acoustic snippet of "Unchained Melody. " The group’s touring lineup for the evening included Matt Menefee, Ryan Richter, James McAlister, Darius Christian, Lessie Conner, Kylie Resnick and Rob Moose alongside the core trio.

The band rehearsed the appearance with a hastily organized secret show the previous Tuesday at the 500-capacity Music Hall of Williamsburg, performing unamplified and backed by a four-piece string section and extra singers.

Comments on Prizefighter and the band’s recent changes

Marcus Mumford, 39, described Prizefighter as his favorite of the group’s albums, calling it the "straightest talking record" and saying it felt closest to the essence of who they are; he said it showed the band feeling comfortable enough in their skin to "talk straight. " Co-founder Ted Dwane, 41, praised Aaron Dessner’s production, saying, "Dessner, he just feels like a real ally, " and noting that the band had been fans of The National and first worked with Dessner while preparing their third record, Wilder Mind.

Prizefighter arrived less than a year after Rushmere, which was released last March and was the group’s first album as a trio following the departure of guitarist and banjoist Winston Marshall, who left in part over political differences with his bandmates.