UB40 comes to South Africa this month
The name “UB40” was selected in reference to the signing-on document issued to people claiming unemployment benefits from the UK government’s department of employment at the time of the band’s formation. The designation UB40 stood for Unemployment Benefit, Form 40.
The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. They have been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times, and in 1984 were nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group. One of the world’s best-selling music groups, UB40 have sold over 70-million records. The ethnic make-up of the band’s original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish and Yemeni parentage.
Their hit singles include their debut Food for Thought and two Billboard Hot 100 number ones with Red Red Wine and Can’t Help Falling in Love. Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart, as did the band’s version of I Got You Babe. Their two most successful albums, Labour of Love (1983) and Promises and Lies (1993), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.
UB40’s three founding members, Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue, will soon be making their triumphant return to South Africa this month having wowed audiences across the world with their Red Red Wine Tour, proving they are still a worldwide tour de force.
The band will be performing in Cape Town on November 5 and 6, 2016 at the Grand Arena, Grand West, in Durban on November 10 at the Durban Botanical Gardens, with their final show in Johannesburg on November 12 at the Ticketpro Dome.
Britain’s biggest reggae band of all time will be performing classic hits and gems from their many critically acclaimed albums, including Red, Red Wine, Kingston Town and Can’t Help Falling in Love. Since reforming in 2013, the trio of Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue have remained at the top of their game, with highlights including their on-going world tour, a sellout UK arena tour headlining London’s O2 arena, a huge sold-out USA tour and critical acclaim for their new material in 2014’s Silhouette album.
Having embarked on their current world tour, the three-piece’s step up to even larger venues is a testament to the longevity of their songs, as well as UB40’s status as Britain’s most successful reggae band of all time, a true music pioneer since 1979.
Opening for UB40 will be ska/reggae band Grassy Spark. Grassy Spark are a sevenpiece Ska-blend outfit from Cape Town who have just released their debut album Portal along with their brand new single Here I Am. The album was mixed by Vicente Espi at Songololo Studios and mastered by Pablo San Martin, both of whom graduated from Berklee Collage of Music in their respective fields. Having played every major music festival in South Africa to date, Grassy Spark are known for their incredible live show.