UB40 bring an unmissable set to their hometown show
The reggae group brought ‘Rat In Mi Kitchen’ back into the set and covered Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still The One’ on the last night of their Unstoppable Tour.
Photo: Kamala
In 1979, UB40 played their first show at Hare & Hounds in Birmingham for a friend’s birthday party. 46 years later, the band are on their ‘Unstoppable’ tour — and that’s exactly it. The band show no signs of slowing down and, with the addition of Matt Doyle on vocals since 2021, they still sound as strong as ever. Known for taking songs and making them their own, it’s no wonder they transformed Shania Twain’s country-tinged classic You’re Still The One into a soulful and rather addictive rendition.
Two years ago, I was at the same venue — bp pulse LIVE — and I waited in anticipation to hear Rat In Mi Kitchen live, but it never came. This time around, the band made sure to include the fan favourite and left me feeling grateful to have finally witnessed it live. I mean, if you’re selling merchandise with ‘Rat In Mi Kitchen’ on it, you have to play it.
And, what a night it was. Not only did UB40 play a joyous set full of non-stop glory, but Aswad and Maxi Priest warmed the venue up before the band took to the stage, and they couldn’t have picked a better line-up.
Kicking things off, London’s reggae greats Aswad — a band made up of children of the Caribbean Windrush generation — took to the stage with opener I Can’t Get Over You. Their set was upbeat, rhythmic and, unsurprisingly, high-energy, wrapping the audience around their fingers as they jumped around the stage. With a set that includes classics like Don’t Turn Around, Shine and my personal favourite, 54-46 (Was My Number), it’s no wonder you’d get them to open the night. If you need someone to get a packed venue up and moving, these are the ones to do it.
While anticipation built for UB40’s set, British vocalist Maxi Priest took to the stage with his band in tow, carrying a similar energy and making sure the crowd were having a good time. The night felt like a concert showcasing the best legends of British reggae, with Maxi Priest showing passion and energy, crowd pleasing with his effortless ability to get the audience involved. When he reached his cover of The Persuaders’ Some Guys Have All the Luck, it was hard to ignore the buzzing atmosphere in the arena. I couldn’t have chosen a better line-up if I tried. It didn’t feel like we were witnessing two ‘support’ bands, but rather an eclectic mix of reggae that complemented one another and didn’t miss a single beat.
Then, it was time. Everyone was here to see UB40: the humble group from Birmingham, who still have the same ethos as they did back then, opening with debut single Food For Thought, which is the song Birmingham City F.C. fans sing when the football team scores.
A notable tender moment came when the band introduced Home from their 2024 album UB45, written about immigration, racism, identity and racial politics, with videos of Birmingham playing in the background as the band spread their message and support.
Doyle, who also plays guitar in the band, blasted out hit after hit in his own charming and elegant way. If you closed your eyes, it felt like nothing had changed since the original line-up stepped onto the scene 40-odd years ago.
It’s interesting to see how the setlist has changed since two years ago, with the band managing to bring a whole new and exciting set of songs to their tour. Adding a cover of Shania Twain’s You’re Still The One into the mix feels genius — as with all the covers they have done, they managed to make it entirely their own.
If there’s one band that have mastered the art of making covers sound like their own songs, it’s UB40. I wonder how many people know that Red Red Wine, a track that is very UB40 and one most casual listeners associate them with, was originally by Neil Diamond?
The night felt like a real family affair, as the band has always felt. Founding member Robin Campbell’s son Matt joined the band’s live set-up in 2023 to make it eleven members on stage, offering backing vocals to the band’s last album, UB45. In a sweet moment, the spotlight shone on Matt as he took centre stage to sing Impossible Love with smooth harmonies and a soulful tone. The apple definitely does not fall far from the tree.
Everyone got their chance to shine on the night, with Gilly G getting the chance to flex his talent at toasting — a rhythmic talking style originating in Jamaica in the 1960s — on Rat In Mi Kitchen, with the crowd getting suitably excited as he bounced around the stage.
After performing iconic UB40 staples Kingston Town and Red Red Wine, the band bowed out, walking off the stage to rapturous applause. Moments later, after the audience had waited patiently, Gilly G bounded onto the stage solo, encouraging the crowd to cheer before the full band returned for their encore.
Here I Am (Come and Take Me) and a cover of Bob Dylan’s I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight set everything up perfectly to end on a whimsical and wholesome note, with the band’s family joining them on stage for (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You, bringing that same family vibe and celebrating the never-ending love.
A show this good is a testament to the band’s longevity within the music industry — and is firm proof that they’re not going anywhere.
All photos by Kamala.