TOP band Mumford and Sons are set to entertain thousands at Huddersfield's Greenhead Park.

But ahead of their Gentlemen of the Road Stopover, the band popped by yesterday to experience the town for the first time.

Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett and Winston Marshall have organised the one-day festival to celebrate towns not heavily toured by bands.

And having explored Greenhead Park and the Byram Arcade the band said they were excited to return on June 2.

Winston said: “The event is going to be amazing.

“We have travelled a bit of Yorkshire but had never been to Huddersfield and all of us are really looking forward to performing here.

“We explored the Byram Arcade, Greenhead Park and walked through the town today.

“The Arcade was so vibey and we did some vintage shopping at The Left Bank.

“It is an amazing town and we have had a great time.”

Sporting Huddersfield Giants tops, Winston continued: “I didn’t know that in Huddersfield you were either a rugby fan or a football fan.

“I like both.

“We want Huddersfield Town to win the play-offs.

“The vibe would be amazing at the gig as well if they won.”

Ben said that the idea for a Stopover event was something the band had always wanted to do: “We wanted to visit new towns and incorporate ideas seen at other smaller festivals we have played.

“We started planning it a while ago and hoped to incorporate other artists.

“Then Gentlemen of the Road just sort of took off.

“People in the town have really got involved.

“It is purely selfish really, we just wanted to come here and see other bands.

“We will probably be spending most of our time in front of the stage watching.

“If it had just been a Mumford and Sons gig it would have been a lot cheaper.

“We are amazed that people know who we are here and they have been so supportive.

“As I was walking past the Lawrence Batley Theatre, somebody said, thanks for coming to Huddersfield.

“We are really grateful that people are so supportive.”

Ted said: “We are often on the road with many different artists who have become friends.

“This event is a chance to bring those friends together, have fun and celebrate the town.”

The British folk rock band who have received countless global awards took home the British Album of the Year Award for Sigh No More at the Brits in 2011.

They are currently working on their second album and Ted continued: “We are still working on the album and it is very nearly there. We are on the final leg.

“We want to get it out as soon as we can.

“We are going to be playing some of our new material at the event.”

The group, who will be staying in the town over the Stopover weekend, hope to experience the pubs and bars of Huddersfield and they aim to create a new real ale for the one-day event.

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