History of Winston Marshall in Timeline

Winston Marshall is a British musician best known as the former banjoist and lead guitarist for the Grammy-winning folk rock band Mumford & Sons. Before achieving mainstream success, he played in the bluegrass group Captain Kick and the Cowboy Ramblers. During his time with Mumford & Sons, the band garnered numerous accolades, including Grammy and Brit Awards. Marshall has also been involved in collaborations with artists such as Baaba Maal and HVOB. Following his departure from Mumford & Sons, he launched an interview podcast with The Spectator.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

December 1987: Winston Marshall Born

In December 1987, Winston Aubrey Aladar deBalkan Marshall was born. He would later become known as a British musician and former banjoist and lead guitarist of Mumford & Sons.

Others born on this day/year

2005: Bosun's Locker Jam Nights

In 2005, the first informal performances of musicians occurred at Winston Marshall's Bosun's Locker jam nights, where musicians played together in a 'hoedown' style. Marcus Mumford began performing at these events, joined by Marshall, Ben Lovett, Ted Dwane, and other musician friends.

December 2007: Mumford & Sons formed

In December 2007, Mumford & Sons officially came together, solidifying the collaboration of its four members who had previously performed in various configurations.

2008: Glastonbury Performance and Debut EP Release

In 2008, Mumford & Sons performed at Glastonbury Festival and released their debut EP later that year. Winston Marshall and Marcus Mumford took jobs to earn money for producing music.

2009: Release of Sigh No More

In 2009, Mumford & Sons released their debut album, Sigh No More, featuring Winston Marshall credited as "Country Winston". The single "Little Lion Man", written by Marcus Mumford, was also released.

2010: Collaboration with Marling and Dharohar Project

In 2010, Mumford & Sons were the band and back-up for Marling's album I Speak Because I Can and released a joint EP with Marling and Indian group Dharohar Project. The EP, self-titled with all three acts' names, featured Marshall's dueling-banjo additions and received positive reviews.

2010: The Guardian Article

In 2010, The Guardian published an article commenting on Winston Marshall's private education and his moniker "Country" Winston Marshall.

2010: Enthusiasm for Fashion

In 2010, Winston Marshall was described as enthusiastic about fashion, comparing his style to Sebastian Flyte from Brideshead Revisited.

2010: Involvement with Mt. Desolation

In 2010, Winston Marshall was involved with the supergroup Mt. Desolation, recording music and performing shows with Ronnie Vannucci Jr., Tom Hobden, Jesse Quin, and Tim Rice-Oxley. They released the album Mt. Desolation and a free download single called "State of Affairs".

2011: Grammy and Brit Awards

In 2011, Mumford & Sons' "Little Lion Man" was nominated for Best Rock Song at the Grammy Awards. The band was also nominated for Best New Artist, performing at the ceremony with Bob Dylan and the Avett Brothers. Sigh No More won the Brit Award for British Album of the Year.

2011: Appearance Described as 'Appalachian Hillbilly'

In 2011, Winston Marshall's appearance was described as resembling "the Appalachian hillbilly version of an Appalachian hillbilly," noting his attire and self-styled haircut.

March 2012: Attendance at White House British State Dinner

In March 2012, Winston Marshall attended the White House British State dinner with his then-girlfriend, Irish stylist Susan Cooney.

2012: Babel Album Release and Film Contributions

In 2012, Mumford & Sons released their second album, Babel, which had a more rock sound. Winston Marshall provided lead vocals for the song "For Those Below". The band also contributed songs to the films Wuthering Heights ("The Enemy") and Brave ("Learn Me Right" with Birdy).

2012: Interest in Style and Grooming

In 2012, Winston Marshall became more interested in style and grooming after GQ named him the sixth-worst-dressed man in the world.

2012: Collaboration with Dropkick Murphys

In 2012, Winston Marshall played the banjo for the Dropkick Murphys song "Rose Tattoo".

October 2013: Formation of Salvador Dalí Parton

In October 2013, Winston Marshall joined the temporary supergroup Salvador Dalí Parton, with Gill Landry, Mike Harris, Jake Orrall, and Justin Hayward-Young. The band wrote six songs in 20 minutes, rehearsed the next day, and performed six shows around Nashville before disbanding.

2013: Grammy and Brit Awards for Babel

In 2013, Babel won the Grammy for Album of the Year, and Mumford & Sons received the Brit Award for British Group. The band also created a tongue-in-cheek music video for their single 'Hopeless Wanderer,' parodying their own image, with Jason Bateman portraying Winston Marshall. Marshall also shed his 'Country Winston' name. At the same time, he expressed distaste towards the banjo.

2013: Band Hiatus

In 2013, Mumford & Sons went on hiatus.

2013: Collaboration with Baaba Maal

In 2013, Winston Marshall began collaborating with Baaba Maal at the Blues du Fleuve festival. This collaboration continued into 2014 and 2015.

2013: Lowest Form of Art

In 2013, Winston Marshall expressed his opinion that jazz music is 'the lowest form of art'.

2014: Collaboration with Idris Elba

In 2014, Mumford & Sons contributed to a compilation album by Idris Elba, re-recording their song 'Home' with Thandiswa Mazwai.

2014: Ivor Novello Award

In 2014, Mumford & Sons were honored with the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement.

2014: Performance at Blues du Fleuve festival

In 2014, Winston Marshall collaborated with Baaba Maal at the Blues du Fleuve festival, continuing their collaboration from the previous year.

July 2015: Reported Dating of Dianna Agron

In July 2015, it was first reported that Winston Marshall was dating American actress Dianna Agron.

2015: Release of Wilder Mind and Johannesburg EP

In 2015, Mumford & Sons returned with the album Wilder Mind, on which Winston Marshall was credited as 'WN5TN.' The album, an electronic rock album, did not feature banjo. The band also released the EP Johannesburg, with African artists Baaba Maal, Beatenberg and the Very Best.

2015: Interest in Techno and Electronic Music

In 2015, Winston Marshall became interested in techno music and electronic dance music after attending a James Ford residency at XOYO. This inspired him to start an electronic side-project, which did not pan out. He was inspired by James Ford, who had been working with Mumford & Sons on their album Wilder Mind.

2015: Comedy Web Series Plans

In 2015, Winston Marshall planned a comedy web series and expressed interest in bringing the concept of Upright Citizens Brigade to England.

2015: Release of 'The Traveller' album

In 2015, Winston Marshall played banjo on Baaba Maal's album 'The Traveller', continuing his collaboration with Maal that began in 2013.

October 2016: Marriage to Dianna Agron

On October 15, 2016, Winston Marshall married American actress Dianna Agron in Morocco. They kept their relationship private.

April 2017: Silk Tour with HVOB

In April 2017, Marshall and HVOB toured Europe for the fifteen-city Silk Tour after releasing the single "The Blame Game" and the album Silk. The album was noted for being darker than HVOB's usual style, styled for a concert setting.

2018: Delta Album Release

In 2018, Mumford & Sons released their fourth album, Delta. The album uses banjo again, but in non-folk ways, and is influenced by Marshall's marriage and experiences with depression. Winston Marshall wrote some of the songs on Delta in Nashville, where Dianna Agron was filming a movie.

2018: Interest in Jordan Peterson's Books

In 2018, Winston Marshall expressed interest in the books of Jordan Peterson and invited Peterson to Mumford & Sons' studio, later sharing a photograph on social media. Marshall defended Peterson's psychology but acknowledged the controversial nature of his political views.

2018: Introduction to Dance

In 2018, Winston Marshall was introduced to dance by Dianna Agron and began taking classes at Kristen Sudeikis' Forward Space dance studio.

2019: Separation from Dianna Agron

In 2019, Winston Marshall and Dianna Agron separated.

2019: Remixes of Maggie Rogers and Kevin Garrett songs

In 2019, Winston Marshall experimented with music by remixing the Maggie Rogers song "Light On" and the Kevin Garrett song "Don't Rush".

2019: Sobriety and Return to Christian Faith

In 2019, Winston Marshall got sober, which he credited with giving him clarity and energy. Following this, after a painful separation and subsequent divorce from Dianna Agron, he returned to his Christian faith.

2020: Divorce from Dianna Agron

In 2020, Winston Marshall and Dianna Agron divorced.

January 2021: Group to connect Hong Kongers immigrating to the UK

In January 2021, Marshall created a group to connect Hong Kongers immigrating to the UK with British residents, following the implementation of the Hong Kong national security law.

March 2021: Criticism for Praising Andy Ngo's Book

In March 2021, Winston Marshall faced criticism for praising Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy, a book by Andy Ngo.

June 2021: Departure from Mumford & Sons

In June 2021, Winston Marshall announced his permanent departure from Mumford & Sons, citing his desire to exercise free speech about politics without involving his former bandmates.

2021: Marshall becomes a contributor for The Spectator

In 2021, Marshall became a contributor for The Spectator, a British politically conservative magazine owned by his father.

January 2022: Launch of 'Marshall Matters' Podcast

In January 2022, Winston Marshall launched the "Marshall Matters" podcast, hosted by The Spectator, featuring interviews with people in creative industries.

July 2022: Guest on BBC's Question Time

On July 7, 2022, Winston Marshall appeared as a guest on the BBC's political programme Question Time, where he discussed the resignation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

2022: Reflection on Leaving the Band

In 2022, Winston Marshall reflected on his departure from Mumford & Sons in an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, stating that he had thought they would be playing together into their sixties.

October 2023: 45 Episodes of Marshall Matters Published

By October 2023, 45 episodes of Winston Marshall's podcast, "Marshall Matters," had been published, including interviews with figures such as Laurence Fox, Jordan Peterson, and Candace Owens.