UB40 LIVE IN SA 2026 REVIEW

“And now I am king
And my queen will come at dawn
She’ll be waiting in Kingston Town”

Swaying to the beat, interjected by his signature skanking semi-tonal moves, Reggae Royalty Ali Campbell and his talented Kingsmen UB40 took to our South African stage at SunBet Arena, Times Square, Pretoria on 6 June 2026 as if they’d never left!

Laid back notes of “No one, no one can tear us apart, You got a place in my heart” resonated – as UB40’s “Stick by me” song clarifies – they’ve loyally remained with us in South Africa through it all over the decades.

Delivering revolutionary messages of hope, upliftment and reconciliation peacefully, our diverse audience was brought to their feet in true unity … we jam!

Kicking off with “One in Ten”, a philanthropic plea for care for those suffering … “Nobody knows me, but I’m always there”.

Ali’s stable, yet magnetic stage presence reassured his fans, “Here I am” and we have “many rivers to cross”.

Legendary pioneers of popular British dub ska reggae fusion with soulful meaning, their solid performance beneath red, green, and yellow lighting, with occasional smoky bursts, embodied their sound and style.

UB40 took us on their unique adventure … “As a river flows, Gently to the sea” of “Red Red Wine” river into “Kingston Town”.

Retro surprises awaited us by British ragga vocalist “Bitty” McLean, who is famed and respected for his smooth vocals, rocksteady rhythms, and contemporary soul.
A swaying “Whisper a prayer for me, my Darling” created an unexpected lullaby atmosphere, flickering with light in the dark arena. Deeply, sincerely and soulfully performed!

Brass interludes, hitting impressively lengthy altissimo high-light notes on stage edge, hyped fans with musical vibrance.

Tidal Waves, South Africa’s reggae gem, who have performed extensively internationally and opened for artists including Ziggy Marley, had drawn the curtain for UB40 in their usual Zulu-inspired mbaqanga.

Sparkling guitar licks and original roots ska reggae blues rock influenced harmonies set the tone for their set of energetic English, Afrikaans, Setswana and Tshivhenda tunes.

UB40’s red and black background logo transformed beneath fluorescent lighting to luminescent pink & purple reminiscent of the 80’s.