10 Apr 2024

UB40 returning to Aotearoa for two shows

9:24 am on 10 April 2024
UB40 toured New Zealand in January 2023.

UB40 toured New Zealand in January 2023. Photo: Supplied

They've sold more than 100 million albums and racked up 10 UK Top 10 albums in the last 45 years - now Birmingham reggae pop band UB40 are heading to Aotearoa to play two shows in October.

UB40 - originally formed in 1978 by Ali Campbell, Jimmy Brown and Earl Falconer - later grew to include five others, including Campbell's brother, Robin. The band, which is best-known for hits like 'Red Red Wine', 'Cherry Oh Baby', 'Rat In Mi Kitchen' and 'Kingston Town', had its first international success in Aotearoa in 1980 and has toured here extensively ever since.

While the band has gone through multiple line-up changes in recent years, especially following Ali Campbell's departure from the group in 2008, it has continued to tour and release new music. The band's upcoming album, UB45, is released on 19 April.

UB40, supported by Eagle-Eye Cherry, play Christchurch's Wolfbrook Arena on Tuesday 8 October, followed by a show at Auckland's Trusts Arena on Thursday 10 October. Pre-sale tickets are available from Monday 15 April.