On Tour Diaries

Out 25^th June 2021 pre-order link https://srgstore.com/collections/all/products/ub40-bigga-baggariddim

An album of reggae collaborations with artists spanning four continents and seven decades of recording experience, featuring House of Shem, Tippa Irie, BLVK H3RO, Inner Circle, Pablo Rider, KIOKO, Gilly G, Slinger, Winston Francis, Leno Banton and 

General Zooz (Reggae Rajahs)

“UB40 are regarded as legends here in Jamaica. They keep their hearts close to the people and especially the community they come from, and I love how they stay on that path, just trying to uplift people.” – BLVK H3RO

Following 2019’s critically acclaimed original album ‘For The Many’, on 25^th June UB40 release Bigga Baggariddim, an incredible celebration of the genre they love and a seminal reggae collaborations album. 

Over 35 years after the original Baggariddim album, UB40 have reunited with artists who appeared on the 1985 album and collaborated with new, diverse reggae talent from around the world, who sing and deejay over cuts of the same rhythms.  It was in cities like UB40’s hometown of Birmingham where people from different ethnic backgrounds first learnt to live with one another, giving rise to multi-cultural Britain. It’s therefore natural for UB40 to collaborate with artists of differing nationalities, ages and cultural backgrounds, as well as those sharing the same roots as themselves. 

“We really enjoy collaborations and this is a natural progression from the original Baggariddim, only more international, and a perfect companion to our last album For The Many because it uses the same rhythms/backing tracks, but features some of the reggae friends we’ve met and worked with around the world.”  – Robin Campbell, UB40

A companion to their critically acclaimed 2019 album For The Many, Bigga Baggariddim features the same rhythms and guest artists from different parts of the world including Jamaica, New Zealand, India and UB40’s home town of Birmingham. New Zealand’s roots reggae band House Of Shem guest on three tracks, led by the irresistible Good Vibes Tonight. From India, the Reggae Rajahs’ General Zooz adds more diversity to UB40’s most eclectic album yet and as the founders of Goa’s annual reggae festival, are a testament to India’s rapidly growing reggae scene.  They perform on the ear worm, Roots Rocks Reggae. 

Joining this selection of international talent are artists from reggae’s homeland of Jamaica, where a new generation of stars has emerged in the past decade, led by Protoje, Koffee and Chronixx. After UB40’s management heard a BBC 1Xtra session showcasing new Jamaican artists, BLVK H3RO and Leno Banton (son of legendary dancehall pioneer Burro Banton) were invited to appear on Bigga Baggariddim. 

Veteran Jamaican reggae artists are represented by Winston Francis (whose long list of hits includes Mr Fix It, which UB40 covered on Labour Of Love III) and Inner Circle, whose overdubs on the track Rebel Love gives it their distinctive, platinum-selling Inner Circle Sound. 

Reggae bands like UB40, who write and produce their own music, had all but disappeared in the UK until fellow Brummie band KIOKO came along. The two bands met when Kioko performed a tribute to UB40, playing One In Ten live at Birmingham’s annual Music Awards. They join the together on Bigga Baggariddim’s You Don’t Call Anymore. 

Alongside UB40’s emergence in the 1980s, there was a UK deejay explosion. Of this talent, Tippa Irie made his reputation on London Sound Systems – and guests here on On The Road – alongside three Birmingham MC’s: Gilly G (Me Nah Leave Yet), Pablo Rider (Did You See That) and Slinger (My Life Action).  

Pablo Rider and Slinger both featured on the original Baggariddim album in 1985 and also made cameo appearances on For The Many. They and Gilly G are all expected to join UB40 on the Bigga Baggariddim tour which begins in November (see below for details). 

UB40’s passion for reggae and belief in its cultural importance has led them to create an exceptional reggae collaborations album, which will remind the listener of reggae’s timeless and evolving power, whilst also introducing them to new, vital and emerging reggae talent. 

Based on the extensive album biography by Echoes magazine’s John Masouri.

Bigga Baggariddim tracklist: 

1. Good Vibes Tonight – UB40 / House of Shem
2. On The Road – UB40 / Tippa Irie
3. Gravy Train Is Coming – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
4. Rebel Love – UB40 / Inner Circle 
5. Did You See That? – UB40 / Pablo Rider
6. You Don’t Call Anymore – UB40 / KIOKO
7. Me Nah Leave Yet – UB40 / Gilly G
8. Love You Now – UB40 / House Of Shem 
9. Mi Life Action – UB40 / Slinger
10. 10.My Best Friend’s Girl – UB40 / Winston Francis 
11. 11.Message Of Love – UB40 / House Of Shem 
12. 12.I’m Alright – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
13. 13.Show And Prove – UB40 / Leno Banton 
14. 14.What Happened To The Have Not’s? – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
15. 15.Roots Rock Reggae – UB40 / General Zooz (Reggae Rajahs)

We are very excited to announce our new 2021 Bigga Baggariddim Tour! Stopping in 24 different cities across the UK and Ireland, including 9 brand new dates! We cannot wait to see you all again and play some new songs for you from our upcoming album as well as the hits you know and love! All tickets purchased for our current shows in March remain valid for these dates.

Sign up here for access to pre-sale tickets for our new dates in Castlebar, Belfast, Kerry, Aberdeen, Stockton, Northampton, Cheltenham, Plymouth and Stoke when they go live Wednesday 24th at 9am – http://bit.ly/UB402021PreSale

General sale tickets for all dates are on sale this Friday at 10am so set your reminders! We also have some extra special ticket bundles available where you can get yourself copies of our upcoming album ‘Bigga Baggariddim’ and more!

Live in Birmingham DVD + 2CD limited edition package celebrating our 40th anniversary at our hometown Christmas show at the Birmingham NIA.

Pre-order your copy now https://nyquest.bigcartel.com/product/ub40-at-40

The package features a live DVD film and a live double album, including 24 tracks spanning our 40 year career.

Released 30/11/20

We can confirm that our lead singer and brother Duncan Campbell was taken to hospital after suffering a stroke. While we can report that he is already up and about, we ask fans to respect Duncan and the Family’s privacy as he works his way back to what we all hope will be a strong and speedy recovery. We look forward to seeing you all on the road next spring.
Big Love
UB40

UB40 Star Brian Travers To Miss 40^th Anniversary Tour After Being Diagnosed With Brain Tumour 

UB40 star Brian Travers has revealed he has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, forcing him to miss the group’s 40^th anniversary UK tour.

The group’s saxophonist was taken to hospital last Tuesday after suffering a seizure at his home, with subsequent brain scans revealing two tumours. 

Travers will now undergo surgery the day before UB40’s tour starts and has been advised by doctors that his recovery will take six months. 

Travers said, “It is with great regret that I shall be unable to join my band mates in UB40 on our 40th anniversary tour, the guys have worked incredibly hard to perfect the songs in preparation for the live premier of our new album ‘For the Many’. They sound great, but I shall be there in spirit, cheering them on from my convalescence and thinking of all the wonderful people out there who have supported us for the last 40 years, who I am now incredibly proud to count as friends. I’ve had a great life with no regrets and have absolutely nothing to add to a bucket list except getting over this and getting back to the thing I love, playing music to anyone who wants to listen and expressing myself through painting & sculpture. It’s been a huge privilege and I thank you all for the opportunity to ‘live the dream’.”

The band has confirmed the tour, which starts on Friday 29^th March at Portsmouth’s Guildhall, will still go ahead. 

UB40 said, “We’re deeply saddened that Brian, our lifelong friend and founding member of UB40, is unable to join us for our celebratory UK tour. We know he will be missed by all but his health and wellbeing come first, and we are sure our friends and fans will join us in wishing Brian a full and speedy return to health, and return to us.”

With forty Top 40 UK hits and record sales of over 100 million worldwide, UB40 are recognised as one of the UK’s most successful bands of all-time. 

The group’s latest album ‘For The Many’ was released on March 15^th 2019.