Kool and the Gang, UB40

On 2 August 2026 at the Open-Air Theatre, Avenue de la Foire aux Vins in Colmar, Kool & The Gang return to the stage with a repertoire that has spanned the decades. Formed in the late 1960s around Robert "Kool" Bell, the band initially blended jazz, soul and instrumental funk before shifting toward a more vocal R&B at the turn of the 1980s. Tracks such as "Jungle Boogie", "Celebration", "Summer Madness" and "Cherish" have lodged their brass and bass lines in popular culture, frequently covered and sampled. In concert, the ensemble mixes classics and recent material in that blend of groove and melody that defines its signature.

UB40, formed in Birmingham in the late 1970s, brings reggae and pop into dialogue with a constant focus on social realities. The band has taken these sounds to stages around the world with "Red Red Wine" and "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You", and continues a long-running trajectory without becoming static. On stage, the collective unites generations and influences—between swaying rhythms, brass harmonies and widely recognisable choruses—for a repertoire that links heritage and the present.