Ub40

UB40 bring their Birmingham-born take on reggae to Plymouth Arena on 17 June 2026. Formed at the end of the 1970s, the band took its name from the UK unemployment form and first made waves in pubs and benefit gigs, shaping a socially aware, dub-tinged sound captured on Signing Off (1980) and Present Arms (1981). With Labour of Love (1983), they leaned into covers of 60s and 70s reggae classics, a path they continued across later volumes, while Promises and Lies (1993) pushed a more melodic, pop-inflected edge. Across decades, they’ve blended brass-led hooks, steady mid-tempo grooves and a balance of originals and reworks.

On stage, UB40 focus on that warm, rolling pulse: tight horn lines, laid-back skank and harmonies that carry both early political cuts and the familiar staples from their cover projects. The line-up has evolved through the 2000s, but the core DNA remains the same, mixing reggae, pop and rock with a live feel built for collective sway rather than showy pyrotechnics. A set that moves through eras, revisiting key moments of their catalogue with the easy flow that has defined their sound.

Plymouth Arena, Millbay Road, Plymouth PL1 3LF.