Iconic band UB40 announce performance in Derry's Ebrington Square

UB40 are set to headline the stage in Ebrington Square.

Fans can expect an unforgettable evening of timeless hits like "Red Red Wine," "Kingston Town," and "I Got You Babe".

The reggae band, who shot to fame in the eighties and have sold millions of records—more than Oasis—and topped the charts on a number of occasions, will delight the people of Derry with a performance on Friday, May 30.

Excitement filled the room at the official announcement of the event in Ebrington Square to kickstart the summer in the city.

SDLP Councillor John Boyle said: “I am hopeful that it will excite the city; I think they are a band from a particular generation, and I think the interest will be from my generation.

“I didn’t know who the headline act was going to be, but it has become blatantly obvious who they are, and it is a band who I actually loved in the late 70s and into the 80s going forward, and they are UB40.

“I bought their first album, which was called ‘Signing Off,’ and it was a fantastic album with some wonderful tunes on it, and that is where their name comes from. UB40 was a card unemployed people would receive, so these guys were all unemployed, and as they found success, they were, of course, signing off.”

The current lineup of the band consists of founding members Robin Campbell, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer, and Norman Lamont Hassan, alongside Matt Doyle, Martin Meredith, Laurence Parry, Ian Thompson, Jahred Gordon, Gilly G, and Matt Campbell.

Sinn Féin Councillor Patricia Logue congratulated all those that worked to bring the ‘renowned’ band to the Maiden City and has hailed it as a significant boost for the city and its businesses.

Cllr Logue said: “A lot of their music has aged with them when we think of ‘Red Red Wine’ and ‘Kingston Town.’.

“It will bring a lot of people to the city and be great for tourism in the city, adding to the offering we have here.”

Joe Gallagher was one of those who was part of the group that brought UB40 to Derry in May, and he hopes this is just the start of major acts coming to Derry for performances.

He said: “All we need to do now is support them and hope this will be the first of many big acts that come to Derry. 

“We look forward to seeing everybody and anybody on the 30th of May.”

UB40, plus special guests, will perform at Ebrington Square on Friday, May 30, with tickets going on sale this Friday, January 31, at 10 am from Ticketmaster and the Millennium Forum.