Mumford & Sons to release new album in May

Mumford & Sons will release their third album, Wilder Mind, on May 4, the band announced Monday.

The album will feature 12 new tracks and has a "minimalist yet panoramic" feel that will mostly replace their familiar banjo and acoustic sounds with synth and electric elements, according to a news release.

"I think all of us had this desire to shake it up," says Marcus Mumford in the release. "The songwriting hasn't changed drastically; it was led more by a desire to not do the same thing again."

The British folk-rock band has seen incredible success with its two previous albums, Sigh No More (2009) and Babel (2012). Babel debuted at No. 1 in both the U.K. and the USA, and won album of the year at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

To promote the new record, Mumford & Sons will stage "stopover" concerts, two-day live events at towns in the USA and U.K. that don't usually attract major touring artists. Towns announced so far are Seaside Heights, N.J.; Waverly, Iowa; Walla Walla, Wash; and Salida, Colo.

Acts including the Flaming Lips, Alabama Shakes, My Morning Jacket, Jenny Lewis, Foo Fighters and JEFF The Brotherhood will also perform at some of the stopovers.

In addition to the stopover shows, Mumford & Sons will headline Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn., in June, alongside Billy Joel and Kendrick Lamar. The band even hired a drummer for its upcoming live shows, according to Rolling Stone.

Tickets for the stopover shows will go on sale on March 6.