Ub40

UB40 bring their Birmingham-born reggae to Bournemouth on 18 June 2026 at Bournemouth International Centre. Formed in the late 1970s and named after the UK unemployment form, the band first made its mark with a socially aware, dub-tinged sound on Signing Off (1980) and Present Arms (1981). From 1983, the Labour of Love series opened a new chapter: reworking classic reggae cuts from the 60s and 70s and easing their style toward a more melodic, pop-leaning edge, later distilled on Promises and Lies (1993). Across decades, the group has navigated lineup changes while keeping the project alive on stage and in the studio.

Live, UB40 lean into what defines them: warm brass lines, steady mid-tempo grooves and a balance between original songs and those signature covers. Expect arrangements that thread reggae, pop and rock with dub inflections, giving space to the horns and the rhythm section as the core of the show. The catalogue spans early politically charged material and the Labour of Love reworks, so the set navigates eras rather than chasing nostalgia, carried by a collective approach that has always been at the heart of the band.