ShareUB40 performing their For The Many 40th Anniversary Tour at The Royal Concert Nottingham on Monday 13th May 2019
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
UB40 came to the Royal Concert Hall last night and invited everyone to celebrate forty years since they formed as an eight piece band back in 1978, and party with them is exactly what this audience did.
With Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue long forgotten, this band showed that they can still bang out their hits and it was great to see one of the pioneers of reggae music do what they do best; get the crowd on their feet, singing and dancing along.
With Duncan Campbell now leading from the front they came on stage and opened with Here I Am (Come And Take Me) from their 1989 album, Labour Of Love II, which was followed up with The Way You Do The Things You Do, which took the party up a notch.
The first mass sing along of the night came in the form of Food For Thought, which had everyone on their feet, before Maybe Tomorrow showed just how well the vocals of the two Campbell brothers work together.
And with many songs being saxophone led, the absence of Brian Travers could have had an impact, but his mantle was taken up by Ian Thompson who did a sterling job.
Touring to promote their latest album, For The Many, there was a mash up of new song Broken Man and oldie Love Is All Is Alright. Gilly G, a guest on the album came on for You Haven’t Called and he was joined by percussionist Norman Hassan for another new song, Moonlight Lover.
Cherry Oh Baby had the crowd standing with arms waving aloft, whilst Baby saw bassist Earl Falconer take over lead vocals, allowing every member of the band to share a spot in the limelight, proving that this band still has plenty in its locker.
Johnny Too Bad and Red Red Wine brought the main set to a close whilst encore songs One In Ten, Kingston Town and the brilliant Can’t Help Falling In Love With You was a superb way to end a truly magical evening.
