THEY caused a stir before they even arrived in town, and tonight folk rock band Mumford & Sons finally played their much-hyped gig at The Regent Theatre, Ipswich.

Fans camped outside the theatre to get tickets when they went on sale last month, while others paid more than four-times the face value on online reselling sites to secure their place in the audience.

The demand was such that fans were warned about ‘fake’ tickets.

As the band’s loyal following filed in to the auditorium ahead of tonight’s concert, the question on their lips was ‘Will they live up to their reputation?’

And two hours later, the answer was a resounding YES.

They hit the ground running with a strong start, energising the crowd immediately.

The band played a mix of old and new, from their now infamous Little Lion Man to the more recent release I Will Wait from their current album Babel.

Mumford & Sons played at Glastonbury 2011 and it has been muted that they may headline next year.

But for now, they are concentrating on smaller venues - like the Regent.

Yet even the Regent is a sign of how far they have come - the last time the band were in Ipswich they played at The Swan.

The Regent may have lacked the big stage, the festival atmosphere and the freedom of an outside gig, but in the some-what intimate setting the music flooded around and you could see the concentration on the faces of the band members - giving a truly unique experience.