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Mumford & Sons star heads to Faversham for banjos

Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons

Brit Award winner Winston Marshall from Mumford & Sons buys his banjos from Faversham.

The famous folkster won the coveted British Album of the Year gong at the biggest night in the British music calendar, along with his three band mates Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane.

The celebrated group, which got together in 2007, also performed at the glitzy award ceremony at London's O2 Arena.

Winston strummed away on his bespoke banjo brought from Andy Perkins traditional instruments factory before The Who rocker Roger Daltrey named them as the winners of the Brits' big prize.

Their album Sigh No More, which has sold more than two million copies since its 2009 release, beat off competition from the likes of Plan B and Take That.

The Banjo Works at Faversham Industrial Estate in Graveney Road was started up by Andy Perkins 18 years ago.

Although tweed-wearing Winston is vocal about his love for the Faversham folk instrument fashioner, coy Andy keeps the names of his other high profile customers under his hat.

As well as banjos built to order the factory offers repair and restoration services, spare parts and expert advice.

Musical manufacturer Andy, who has been playing banjos for 50 years, said: "Winston is a very charming man and incredibly nice.

"He is very good at what he does and he is doing a lot of new things with banjos.

"He has spoken quite a lot about the fact that he gets his banjos from us. I like Mumford & Sons' stuff but I like a lot of different music.

"He has visited us a few times to design his banjo to the particular way he wanted. It is a strange and bizarre instrument and looks very peculiar.

"Faversham has always been good for folk, and there is a lot of talent and appreciation for it in the town."

Speaking on the band's website, Winston said: "What we write about is real, and we sing and play our instruments more passionately because we feel like we need to.

"We love honest music."

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