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UB40 ft Ali Campbell to close out the Margate Summer Series at Dreamland

05:00, 26 September 2023

Kent’s summer of live music is coming to an end with a final concert from UB40 ft Ali Campbell.

The group will headline the last Margate Summer Series event, which has seen huge artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, Tom Jones, McFly and Olly Murs visit the seaside town’s Dreamland venue since May.

UB40 ft Ali Campbell will be the final concert of this year’s Margate Summer Series
UB40 ft Ali Campbell will be the final concert of this year’s Margate Summer Series

The world-famous reggae pop group first performed together in the 1970s, with the peak of their fame coming after the release of their 1983 hit Red Red Wine.

The Neil Diamond cover topped the charts in the UK and helped the band gain popularity overseas.

Their string of singles also include Kingston Town, Can't Help Falling in Love and I Got You Babe.

Along with fellow 1980s ska band Madness, they hold the record for the most weeks spent by a group in the UK singles chart during the decade, both achieving 214 weeks in the charts.

The group, which originally included members such as rapper Astro, bassist Earl Falconer and trombonist Norman Hassan, remained together until 2008 when frontman Ali Campbell announced his departure.

Dreamland has hosted artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, Primal Scream, Tom Jones and Olly Murs this summer. Picture: Dreamland
Dreamland has hosted artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, Primal Scream, Tom Jones and Olly Murs this summer. Picture: Dreamland

In 2014, Campbell, alongside other original members Astro and Mickey Virtue, reunited to perform together under the UB40 name - despite other original members also still gigging together under the same name, with Duncan Campbell stepping in as his brother’s replacement.

Since then, Astro - whose real name was Terence Wilson but was given the nickname after apparently wearing Dr. Martens Astronaut boots to school - passed away at the age of 64 in November 2021.

Keyboardist Mickey Virtue had previously left the band in 2018.

The only original UB40 member who now remains in the newly reformed group is Ali Campbell, who will be joined on stage by a number of other musicians for the headline show in Margate.

UB40 ft Ali Campbell will be playing on Dreamland’s outdoor Scenic Stage on Saturday, September 30. Tickets can be booked online here.

It’s also worth noting that train strikes are planned for that date and, as a result, the usual late-night trains from Margate station may not be available after the concert.

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