The cold November weather did nothing to stop fans of UB40 packing out the Arena, where they were treated to a hit-filled set. As if seeing the legendary group wasn't enough, the evening also featured performances from Soul II Soul and Young Culture...
Young Culture opened the evening with an energy that immediately drew the audience in, effortlessly setting the mood for the rest of the night. The Birmingham-based group demonstrated their undeniable talent and charisma, creating a welcoming and engaging atmosphere from the very first note.
Their music was incredibly easy to listen to, blending catchy melodies with heartfelt lyrics that resonated deeply with the crowd. A standout moment of their set was their performance of All My Days, a song that showcased both their musical versatility and emotional depth. The delivery was polished yet brimming with raw passion, leaving many in the audience completely captivated.
Soul II Soul filled the stage at the arena. But what would you expect from a Grammy winning musical collective. Jazzie B at the back on a raised platform to DJ from. Then we had three backing singers, drums, keys, guitar, bass, violins and Jazzie is in fine form as he chats to the audience. He tells us he lives in Barbuda and listens to calypso. When he was growing up, UB40 was one of the bands he loved. He dreamed of being on the stage with UB40 and he feels humbled to be on the stage tonight.
We are treated to a wonderful cover of Nothing Compares 2U and of course, Soul II Soul classics Get A Life and Back To Life.
Matt Doyle is fantastic and his voice is not unlike Ali Campbell's. Robin Campbell chats to the crowd and tells us that the new album is out, called UB45 and that fellow Brummie, Matt has been with the band for three years now. Robin sang on The Keeper, a song he wrote for his wife.
The set finished with Red Red Wine, which had the entire crowd up and singing along. It also included Gilly G toasting just as Astro had done.
The band then left the stage and Gilly was out getting the crowd going, starting up a UB40 chant, and encouraging everyone to scream.
Then, the band returned to the stage for an encore which included Food For Thought and of course ending on I Can't Help Falling In Love With You.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
