By Judy Shields
Photos: The Hollywood Times
The Greek Theatre, Los Feliz California (The Hollywood Times) 08/01/2024
Four-time Grammy® nominated band UB40 announces the addition of 17 new shows for their upcoming “RED RED WINE TOUR” U.S. summer tour, which kicks off in New York City on July 2. With an evening at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California announced for July 31, the tour will also expand to cities in West Virginia, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona, at major amphitheaters and performing arts centers across America. Tickets and fan experiences are available for purchase at UB40.GLOBAL and local ticket outlets (fan experiences are provided by 237 Global).
It was an amazing night at The Greek on Wednesday and it was a full house too. Beautiful warm night to be out with friends, spouse and loved ones. UB40 did not disappoint a single person that night. Here is a short video of some of their performances:
The opening acts were Inner Circle and The English Band. Both of these bands sounded amazing and got the attendees up and on their feet and some around us were singing right along and I found myself up and dancing. If you didn’t make it out that night you sure missed a great evening of live music. Try and catch them on this UB40 Red Red Wine Tour.
Here are some photos to enjoy:
Coinciding with the recent release of the legendary band’s 45th Anniversary album, UB45, the group returns to the U.S. for a third straight year, bringing fans special live performances of their worldwide hit singles to the stage with “Red Red Wine,” “Food For Thought,” “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You,” and more, in addition to new songs from UB45. Special guests will be featured on select dates including The English Beat, Maxi Priest, Inner Circle and Third World (check local listings).
Says Robin Campbell, “We’re excited to get back to the States again for our third year in a row, as we love coming to America. We can’t wait to play songs from our new album that we’re so very proud of, showcasing Matt Doyle’s vocals on the tracks. He’s brought a new lease of life to our music, as has the addition of our ‘permanent guest’ MC Gilly G and my son on backing vocals, Matt Campbell, carrying on the legacy. When you play songs over so many years, the arrangements and vocals evolve and change. These updated versions of our hits are still close to the originals, but now reflect how we perform them today and they sound better than ever.”
Adds Jeff Epstein of UAA: “It’s always such an honor to work with these legends and to bring them to the USA for their yearly run. They are so talented in being able to replicate the quality of their recorded albums and at the same time bring a freshness and excitement that gets the crowd going every time.”
The world’s biggest-selling reggae group, with more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, UB40 members James Brown (drums), Robin Campbell (guitar/vocals), Earl Falconer (bass/vocals), Norman Hassan (percussion/vocals), Martin Meredith (keyboards/WX7/saxophone), Jahred Gordon (keyboards), Laurence Parry (trumpet/flugel/trombone), Ian Thompson (saxophone), Gilly G (MC vocals), Matt Campbell (backing vocals) – and lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Doyle – are an English reggae and pop multi-cultural band originally formed in Birmingham, England. With more than 50 UK Top 40 singles and 10 UK Top 10 albums, the group has been recording and touring since 1978.
After the concert, several media folks including myself were able to meet the band and get a photo with them. They also had a meet & greet for VIP tickets. Here are a couple of photos:
Click HERE to find out about each member of UB40.
Originating as a group of young friends with working-class origins, to creating the world’s most successful reggae band, UB40 has gone on to becoming four-time Grammy® nominees for “Best Reggae Album,” spending a combined 11 plus years on the UK album charts with hit singles including “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You,” “Red Red Wine,” “I Got You Babe (Ft. Chrissie Hynde),” and many more. UB40 is one of the most successful British groups of all time.
UB40’s current lead singer, Matt Doyle, joined the band in 2021, taking over for a retired Duncan Campbell after Doyle’s group, KIOKO, opened for UB40 at The Royal Albert Hall in 2018 — and then supported them on UB40’s subsequent UK tour and European tours. Doyle’s lead vocals were first featured on the track “You Don’t Call Anymore” from UB40‘s collaboration album BIGGA BAGGARIDDIM, released in 2021; and 2022’s “Champion“, the official song of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which also featured Gilly G and Dapz on the Map, two emcees also from Birmingham.
UB40 is represented in the USA and South America by Jeff Epstein and Paul Gaudio of Universal Attractions Agency (UAA).
UB40’S U.S. “RED RED WINE TOUR” TOUR DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS (NEW SHOWS IN BOLD):
July 30 – Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA
July 31 – The Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
August 2 – Chumash Casino Resort and Spa – Santa Ynez, CA
August 3 – Wildhorse Pass – Chandler, AZ
August 4 – Casino Del Sol Resort – Tucson, AZ
August 5 – The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing Company–Santa Fe, NM
August 8 – The Sound at Coachman Park – Clearwater, FL
August 9 – Pompano Beach Amphitheatre – Pompano, FL
August 10 – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL
August 11 – King Center for the Performing Arts, Melbourne, FL
August 15 – Eisenhower Park – Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater – Nassau County, NY
August 16 – Seaside Heights Live – Seaside Heights, NJ
August 17 – El Patio – Dorado, Puerto Rico
August 18 – University of the Virgin Islands, Hermen E. Moore Golf Course – St. Thomas – USVI
About “UB45”
UB40’s long-awaited 21st studio album, “UB45,” released on April 19 via SRG Records (Universal), is a 14-track album that features brand new songs including forthcoming singles “Gimme Some Kinda Sign” and “Home,” plus re-recordings of some of the band’s most beloved hits. With seven new UB40 recordings, including the forthcoming lead single, “Gimme Some Kinda Sign,” a cover of Brenton Wood’s 1967 track “Gimme Little Sign,” the group added a special UB40 flavor to the legendary soul classic. It was chosen by Matt Doyle who brought it to Robin Campbell, unaware that the song had been on the guitarist and vocalist’s wish list since the Labour Of Love (1983) days.
“UB45” delivers from the band what they do best, with songs that fearlessly address societal hot button issues and take a firm stand against the injustices of the world. This is apparent from the off on opening track “Home,” complete with trademark UB40 beats and the powerful themes of inequality and bigotry. Other new recordings include a beautiful rendition of Bill Withers’ “Hope She’ll Be Happier” (1971), “Trouble,” “Say Nothing,” “Fool Me Once,” and the single “Champion,” which was the official anthem of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
UB40’s iconic tunes “Food For Thought,” ”King,” “Tyler,” “Red Red Wine,” “Cherry Oh Baby,” “Sing Our Own Song,” and “Kingston Town,” have all been given a fresh recorded treatment while retaining the spirit, timbre, and melodies that fans know and love. In addition to Matt’s vocals, Jamaican keyboard player Jahred Gordon has joined the band ranks. Long-time producing partner Jamie Travers, son of late founding member and legendary saxophonist Brian Travers, also plays keys. Jamie worked to isolate his father’s sax from live recordings, grafting the sounds onto the re-recorded tracks so that the group could honor their bandmate, who died in 2021.
“UB45” TRACKLISTING INCLUDES:
Home
Food For Thought
King
Champion
Tyle
Trouble
Red Red Wine
Fool Me Once
Cherry Oh Baby
Say Nothing
Sing Our Own Song
Gimme Some Kinda Sign
Kingston Town
Hope She’ll Be Happier
Forever True* (Featured only on BCFC edition & Ultimate edition)
