A Mumford & Sons Fan Experience: When I met Ben Lovett at Rock Werchter 2012

I just came back from Belgium, and it already feels like it happened ages ago. Actually it kinda feels like it never really happened. Maybe because it was so so great, it feels like it was too good not to be just a dream.

I was glad to see the Mumfords, but that’s about it, because their show took place just half an hour after Ben Howard’s show, where I was almost at the front row (I had such a good time there!), so when we arrived at the main stage the place was already full and we didn’t manage to see the stage and the big screens very well. Plus, the people around us were not that enthusiastic during the show, a lot were talking, which prevented me from hearing what Ben and Marcus had to say.

Later that day I went to see Regina Spektor, who is my favorite singer. I managed to be at the front row, and it was one of the best shows ever. She is incredibly sweet. When her show ended, I saw people going out on the other side of the security barrier. Then I recognised on of them. He was wearing a hoodie, the hood on his head. “Wait. I was Ben. He was so close I could have touched his face.” I said to my cousin.

Then we went outside, wandering near the Pyramid Marquee were the show took place. We were still high in adrenaline after Regina’s great performance. I saw that there was a space between two of the barriers that marked the limits of the festival site (at least the limits for the public). I joked about it, saying Ben and the others were probably just behing them.

And guess who came out of this space right at this moment: Ben Lovett, followed by other people I did not recognise.

I always thought I was the kind of person who wasn’t able to come up to musicians I like, partly because I am quite shy and I wouldn’t know what to say, partly because I think that they have the right to peacefuls moment where no one comes to them saying “Hi I love what you do, can I get a picture/autograph?”. But I have no idea what happened in my mind, as soon as I saw him I walked towards him saying “Hi Ben, I love your music, can I take a picture with you?”. It felt such a rude thing to do, and such a stupid thing to say, but it happened all very quickly, and this ” I love your music” thing was so much more meaningful that what it sounded like. It actually put in a nutshell the fact that I really loved what he did with his record company, that I loved Mumford and Sons’ music and that I thought they were great at the show a few hours before even with Marcus’ broken hand.

He first seemed very surprised, I didn’t know if I was bothering him or if he was just amazed that I recognised him just when came out of the space between the barriers, even with his hood on his head, when someone else could have just thought “well, that’s just a man with a hoodie”. I said “Just five seconds. If you don’t have time it’s okay.” Again, I felt rude saying this. But he said “Yeah yeah, sure!”. I have my camera to my cousin, he put his arm on my shoulder and CLICK the photo was taken. He wished me a good evening, I answered “Thank you very much, you too!” then he left.

A few minutes before, my feet were hurting me like hell. But right after that, I did not feel them at all, I was on an other planet.

I really hope I did not bother him, or scare him (I practically jumped on him). It happened so fast, I have no idea how I was even able to talk to him.

And I also hope the photo turns out well, beven though my cousin forgot to put the flash on.
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Thank you for sharing!

If any other fans are interested in submitting their experiences, photos, videos, and more, please click here. -M&SBlog

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