Line-up

Venue

Spark Arena

42-80 Mahuhu Cres, 1010, Auckland, New Zealand

www.sparkarena.co.nz

Capacity: 12,000

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Additional details

Tour name: The Unstoppable World Tour - a celebration of 50 years in Music

Doors open: 19:00

Concert in your area for Reggae and Pop.

Find out more about Pop.

UB40 biography

UB40 are a reggae and pop band from Birmingham, UK, formed in 1978. They have sold in excess of 70 million records.

Over the course of a career that’s now lasted for well over thirty years, UB40 have made a name for themselves as one of the most successful reggae acts in history. They’ve been successful the world over, but are probably best loved in their native United Kingdom, where they’ve had no fewer than fifty singles make the singles chart. In the U.S., meanwhile, they’ve had two huge number one successes, including “Red Red Wine” - probably their signature song - and their take on Elvis Presley’s classic “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.

It’s difficult to speak too clearly about the current lineup of the group, not least because it’s subject to legal proceedings; there’s now both a UB40 and a ‘UB40 Reunited’, with the latter band boasting original singer Ali Campbell, long-time trumpeter Astro and keyboardist Mickey Virtue. At the heart of the conflict is a spat between Campbell and his brother Duncan, who remains in the original UB40 - who, confusingly, are also still a going concern. Either way, it shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow an impressive legacy, the most important part of which is likely the example that UB40 set, with their diverse ethnic background, for other multi-cultural musical outfits in the UK.

Soul II Soul biography

Soul II Soul (formed in 1988) is a British soul influenced R&B and hip-hop group who rose to prominence in 1989 with their chart-topping single “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)”, hailing from London, England.

Founded by Jazzie B in 1988, Soul II Soul began as a sound system playing records at house and street parties. Featuring a rotating cast of members including Nellee Hooper, Simon Law, Phillip “Daddae” Harvey, and Caron Wheeler, the band's debut release was the dubplate “FairPlay” in 1988, which secured them a deal with Virgin Records. Following the subsequent release of a few un-charting singles in 1988, the group rose to recognition with in 1989 with the release of “Keep on Moving”. The same year Soul II Soul issued the single “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)”, which went on to top the UK Singles Chart for four consecutive weeks. Featuring Wheeler on vocals the single paved the way for the group’s debut album “Club Classics Vol. One” which also found the top spot of the UK Albums Chart.

Soul II Soul also enjoyed moderate success in the U.S. at this time with the single “Back to Life” reaching the Billboard 200’s Top 10. The band’s debut also secured the group two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for “Back to Life” and Best R&B Instrumental for “African Dance”. The group’s sophomore album “Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade” followed in May 1990 once again rising to the top of the UK Albums Chart. Led by the singles “Get a Life”, “A Dream’s Dream”, and “Missing You”, the album was recorded without Caron Wheeler, however earned the group three Soul Train Awards. A third album, “Vol. III: Just Right” arrived in 1992, which spawned the group’s last Top 10 hit, “Joy”.

The following year Soul II Soul released the greatest hits album “Vol. IV: The Singles 88-93”, which rose to No. 10 on the UK Albums Chart. Marked by a decline in sales, the band’s fourth full-length “Vol. V: Believe” was released in August 1995 peaking at No. 13, and was followed by “Time for Change” in 1997.

Live reviews

UB40 is a British reggae/pop band that has been in the industry for over thirty years. Although their membership has changed over the years, they are still touring and entertaining fans around the world. They generally perform in large venues and outdoor festivals.

The entertainment is based on the music and vocals rather than special effects and dance routines. Their opening act is usually a DJ playing classic reggae songs to get the audience dancing and in the mood.

Their current lead singer Duncan Campbell brings a deeper, more soulful tone to the lyrics. UB40 is well-known for its covers as well as its original music. UB40 in concert plays all the old favorites and covers as well as their newer music. They have the sort of show that draws the audience in so that they are dancing and singing along with every song. The audience tends to be a little older these days, but after 15 minutes of singing and dancing, the years seem to melt away for the evening.

UB40 plays for two solid hours. The show is short on the stories and preaching and long on the singing and music. The band is not out there to promote some message or view but to help the audience have a great time. They usually back-load the second half of the show with classics to leave everyone with a good feeling at the end.

Anonymous

Soul II Soul are legends in the eyes of soul and RnB fans, with the British collective being one of the few bands to crossover to the US at the end of the ‘80s. Jazzie B’s experimental RnB group, which has featured a rotating lineup, have been going since 1988 and soon after were signed to Virgin Records. After they dropped their landmark debut, Club Classics Vol. One, in 1989, a handful of follow-ups followed up throughout the ‘90s; for a while at least, their dance-laced soul pop was pretty ubiquitous. These days, Jazzie B and co regulars on the festival circuit. They are just so incredibly well suited to big, open-air main stages, especially when the sun is shining. I saw them for the first time recently on the main stage at London’s Lovebox, where the veterans had an audience of young and old dancing around in glorious sun. Jazz B still looked like the don and the band were super efficient. Obviously their massive hit ‘Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)’, which they ended on, achieved a massive sing-a-along – perhaps the biggest sing-a-long of the day. Caron Wheeler’s vocals are still impressive, even after all this years, and it was one of the festival highlights. Soul II Soul have still got it!

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