UB40 featuring Ali Campbell returns to Dublin with a gig at RDS Simmonscourt

Following a dazzling performance at 3Arena earlier this month, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell have announced their Irish return with a concert at RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin on Friday 30th August 2024.

Fuelled by the voice that powered UB40 to 70 million record sales and over fifty UK chart hits, band co-founder Ali Campbell is again bringing some much-needed reggae cheer into the world as he takes the latest incarnation of the legendary British outfit to the world’s biggest stages.

Building on a legacy that dates back 45 years to his formative years in inner-city Birmingham, singer and guitarist Ali’s touring ensemble remains the most authentic realisation of UB40’s original aim of advancing reggae in all its guises.

“I think I’ve got the best reggae band in the world, and you can quote me on that,” Campbell remarks. “They are all seasoned musicians, who have spent all their lives in professional bands, and I feel so confident with them. We can play in the UK, Africa or an island like Fiji, and people will be buzzing afterwards. The past few years have been tough for a lot of people. There’s a lot of darkness in the world. I’ve lost close friends long before their time. But life goes on, and this group seems to leave a good vibe wherever we play.”

This current surge of activity is part of a story that goes back to 1979, when UB40 began putting their own, roots-rocking take on Jamaican reggae. Taking their name from the official form given to individuals claiming unemployment benefit in the UK, the outfit played their first show at a pub in Birmingham in 1979. After reaching number four in the charts with their double A-sided debut single, King / Food For Thought, the band released the Signing Off album in 1980.

They went on to top the UK singles chart on four occasions – with ‘Red Red Wine’ in 1983, ‘I Got You Babe’ (a duet between Ali and Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde) in 1985; ‘(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You’ in 1993 and ‘Baby Come Back’ with Pato Banton in 1994. Two of those hits, ‘Red Red Wine’ and ‘(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You,’ also topped the US charts.

Tickets to see UB40 featuring Ali Campbell start from €59.90 and go on sale this Friday, 26th April, at 10 am via Ticketmaster.