15 November 2022
Newsdesk
Pioneering reggae musician and entrepreneur Freddie McGregor has been added as a special guest to UB40’s forthcoming arena shows this December . The UB45 tour celebrates the band's 45th anniversary, an upcoming album of the same will also be released early in 2023. Tickets for the tour are available below.
Robin Campbell of UB40 said, “It's a privilege that the ‘Captain of the Big Ship’ will join us on our arena shows . With a career spanning almost six decades, more than 40 albums to his name, and some epic songs that have moved fans globally, Freddie is a real legend of the reggae scene, he is one of the true pioneers and we can't wait to welcome him!"
In 1983, McGregor founded his own indie label, Big Ship, and produced many artists including Lieutenant Stitchie, Luciano, Mikey Spice, Papa San and Tiger. In the same year, he released the critically acclaimed album Come On Over through RAS Records in the US. McGregor has continued recording into the 21st century, including the album Anything for You (2002), which won a Grammy nomination, as well as Signature (2000) and Di Captain (2012).
McGregor is a widely respected elder statesman in the reggae music community, giving back through vehicles such as the Big Ship Music Fest. He was recognised with the Order of Distinction in 2003 for his contribution to music.
UB40 founders Robin Campbell, James Brown, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, long-time members Martin Meredith, Laurence Parry along with Tony Mullings, Ian Thompson and Matt Doyle, who was announced as the band’s new lead singer in 2021 following Duncan Campbell’s retirement, will start their 45th Anniversary with a celebratory arena tour in the UK and Ireland this December playing Castlebar, Belfast, Leeds, London’s iconic Wembley Arena and a special hometown performance at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena.
The ‘UB45’ tour is a must-attend event for any UB40 lover. New frontman Matt Doyle will take the UB40 live experience one step further.
As fans have come to expect, the tour promises to be a true UB40 fest - a celebration of the band’s timeless classics and fan favourites, alongside their latest material. Audiences will be treated to a set list packed with incredible hits, such as Food for Thought, Kingston Town, (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You.
The band will also play tracks from the forthcoming new UB45 album including the recently re-recorded double-platinum, chart-topping single Red Red Wine. The band’s performance of the 1983 hit at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony was a stand-out highlight and was viewed by an estimated global TV audience of over one billion people.
Red Red Wine was the second single to be released from UB40’s upcoming album UB45 and follows Champion, which was the official Commonwealth Games song. UB45 will be released early 2023. The album is the ultimate celebration of UB40 past and present featuring new original material.
UB40 are one of the UK's most successful British groups of all time, achieving three UK Number Ones – Red, Red Wine, I Got You Babe (ft. Chrissie Hynde) and (I Can’t Help ) Falling In Love with You – not to mention 17 Top 10 singles and more than 50 UK hit singles. The band have sold 100 million records while taking their smooth Reggae and Pop blend to all corners of the globe, with hits such as ‘Food For Thought’, ‘Cherry Oh Baby’ and ‘Kingston Town’. Among the accolades, the band won an Ivor Novello Award, was nominated for the BRIT Award for Best British Group in 1984 and the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times between 1987 and 2006.
Since forming in 1978, UB40 have transcended their working-class origins to become the most successful reggae band in the world. Older numbers such as King (about the legacy of American Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King) and One In Ten (about unemployment in the UK) which feature on the tour are as timely today as when they were first sung in 1980 and 1981.
Robin Campbell, Guitarist and Vocalist says: “Our 45th anniversary doesn’t bear thinking about, but the celebrations will be great fun starting in the UK arenas in December. These shows and the new album represent our brotherhood and celebrating our history but also taking our next step together as a band. We are pushing new boundaries and looking to the future with our frontman Matt Doyle, and we can’t wait to show the world how good he is with us and how much he’s come on in the last year”. Come and join us to celebrate 45 years of UB40 and what is going to be one massive party!
02/12/2022 - Rock City Nottingham
05/12/2022 - UEA Norwich
06/12/2022 - Victoria Hall Stoke-on-Trent
07/12/2022 - Eventim Olympia Liverpool
09/12/2022 - Ulster Hall Belfast
10/12/2022 - Royal Theatre Castlebar
18/12/202 - Utilita Arena Birmingham with special guest Freddie McGregor
20/12/2022 - First Direct Arena Leeds with special guest Freddie McGregor
21/12/2022 - OVO Arena Wembley London with special guest Freddie McGregor
