Ub40

UB40 bring their blend of reggae, pop and rock to the Brighton Centre in Brighton on 1 June 2026. Formed in Birmingham in the late 1970s, the group took its name from the UK unemployment form and first cut its teeth in pubs and at benefit gigs. The early albums Signing Off (1980) and Present Arms (1981) leaned into dub textures and socially minded lyrics. With Labour of Love (1983), the band shifted toward reinterpreting classic reggae from the 1960s and 1970s, a direction they later developed with a more melodic, pop-inflected touch on Promises and Lies (1993).

On stage, UB40 move between originals and reworks, carried by brass-led hooks, warm keys and a steady, mid‑tempo pulse. Over the years the lineup has changed, but the project has continued around long-standing members and new singers, keeping that balance between roots sensibilities and accessible melodies. This show at the Brighton Centre lines up songs from across the catalogue, from the politically tinged early cuts to smoother lovers rock vibes, shaped by those distinctive horn lines and a tight rhythm section. A live snapshot of a body of work that spans decades, played in Brighton on 1 June 2026.