UB40, the world’s biggest selling reggae group, will take to the road with two-time Grammy Award winners Soul II Soul for a special UK arena tour in 2024.
Prepare for the party of all parties, as two multi-million selling behemoths combine for an evening of timeless chart hits and tireless performances. Kicking off at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on 1 November 2024, the UB40 UK arena tour with special guests Soul II Soul will visit Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 2 November 2024.
Following their rapturously received 45-year anniversary celebrations, playing to packed crowds across Europe and the US, UB40 return to the stage in fine form, buoyed by the energising presence of vocalist Matt Doyle. The legendary band are the most decorated and successful reggae act of all time, having sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and amassed 50 UK Top 40 singles and 10 UK Top 10 albums.
Formed in Birmingham in 1978, UB40 proudly wear their working-class roots on their sleeves, championing causes and concerns in songs that tackle political and social issues head on. Capturing the hearts, minds, and dancing feet of disaffected British youth, their loyal audience has grown and evolved with them over the past 45 years, gathering new and younger fans along the way, thanks to the power and impact of music and messages that continues to resonate today.
UB40 will be joined by two-time Grammy Award winners Soul II Soul, who became chart-toppers in the UK and overseas with their ground-breaking blend of “timeless, shimmering pop…and sun-soaked spirituality” (The Guardian).
Expertly fusing reggae, disco, soul, and house, Soul II Soul’s distinct brand of dance music has lost none of the vitality that saw them conquer the pop charts over 30 years ago. Boasting over 10 million record sales worldwide, two UK No.1 albums and 13 UK Top 40 singles, including five UK Top 10 singles, the pioneering London collective helped pave the way for UK sound system culture, opening the floodgates on an international scale. They progressed from being one of the leaders of the 1980’s warehouse scene to pioneering British black music around the world.
In the wake of the band’s grassroots-led musical revolution, genres such as jungle, dubstep and grime sprung up and changed the game for generations of experimental dance artists. Their progressive message of inclusivity – “a happy face, a thumpin’ bass, for a lovin’ race” – welcomed everyone, filling dancefloors worldwide with a spirit of positivity that’s continued to break down barriers and spanned the decades since. The group’s founder Jazzie B was awarded an OBE for services to music in 2008, and won an Ivor Novello Award for Inspiration, as “the man who gave British black music a soul of its own.”
Robin Campbell, founding member of UB40, said: “After the release of our forthcoming album UB45 and more than twelve months of touring to mark our 45th year as a band, next year’s UK arena tour will be the perfect homecoming and culmination of our celebrations.”
Matt Doyle, lead singer of UB40, added: “Our arena tour of the UK in November 2024 is going to be a blast! I’m beyond excited to be playing venues like Wembley, it’s a dream come true. And the fact we’ll have a brand new album (UB45) to bring on the road with us makes it even better!”
For the first time, this special meeting of musical minds will bring together two of the country’s most revered artists, playing arenas across the UK. Fans can expect an evening of much-loved classic hits from two era-defining acts – expect “Kingston Town”, “Red Red Wine”, “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You”, “Food For Thought”, along with new material from the upcoming ‘UB45’ album due out later this year. While Soul II Soul will bring some sunshine with their huge hits “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me), “Keep On Movin'”, “Missing You”, “Get a Life” and “Fairplay”.
UB40 with special guests Soul II Soul full 2024 UK tour dates
Fri 1 November 2024 London OVO Arena Wembley
Sat 2 November 2024 Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
Thurs 7 November 2024 Cardiff CIA
Sat 9 November 2024 Birmingham Resorts World Arena
Fri 15 November 2024 Leeds First Direct Arena
Sat 16 November 2024 Glasgow OVO Hydro
Thurs 21 November 2024 Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Sat 23 November 2024 Belfast SSE Arena
Tickets for UB40 with special guests Soul II Soul go on sale at 10am on Friday 30 June 2023 and are available at www.ticketek.co.uk.
