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UB40 (UK)
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February 16, 20:30
Adrenaline Stadium 
 UB40 was formed in the heart of Birmingham, one of England's most ethnically diverse cities. The summer of 1978 saw the eight band members drawn together by their love of the skanking Jamaican reggae vibes. Taking their name from a notorious British unemployment form, the multi-racial group of young men proceeded to spend the next six months in a basement, collaborating on ideas and learning their instruments. By early 1979 they had played their first local gig. Through the rest of the year UB40 performed at pubs, clubs, and benefits all around the UK.
The group’s way up to the world popularity started when a British radio legend John Peel heard the band's first demo tape and was so impressed that invited them to perform on his Radio One show in 1980. The single "King" b/w "Food For Thought" became Top 5 smash in England in February 1980, and officially launched UB40's career as hitmaking recording artists. The group released a pair of 1981 albums, "Present Arms" and "Present Arms In Dub," and thus embarked on a career journey characterized by uncompromising artistic autonomy.
UB40's breakthrough in America started with releasing the 1983's “Labour Of Love”, and its single "Red, Red Wine”. The song topped the British singles charts in 1983. After renewed promotion following the 1988 Nelson Mandela Concert at Wembley, the single reached the number 1 position in the US. Touring America and Canada in the first half of 1985, the group celebrated another hit single in July 1985 with "I Got You Babe," recorded with Chrissie Hynde.
 Back in the studio, UB40 put the finishing touches upon their album "Rat In The Kitchen," and released in the summer of 1986. The album set the band off on a worldwide tour which even involved concerts in Soviet Union. 1993's platinum selling album, “Promises And Lies”, spawned the hit “Can't Help Falling In Love”, which topped the U.S. pop chart for seven consecutive weeks and turned out to be the band’s most successful worldwide single release becoming the main title to the 1993 Sharon Stone. The subsequent tour culminated in a series of shows in South Africa (their first), with the group dedicating their anti-apartheid anthem "Sing Our Own Song" to President Nelson Mandela, marking a poignant end to UB40's 15 month tour.
In 2007 UB40 toured South headlining the Live Earth concert at the Cradle of Humankind and performed with Cas Haley on the America's "Got Talent" season finale. In 2008 it was announced that the band’s front man, Ali Campbell, was leaving the group after 30 years of cooperation and in April 2008 Campbell was replaced in the band by his brother Duncan. The album “TwentyFourSeven”, released the same year, was UB40's last one with the original lineup. Nevertheless the band continues to perform, conducting a number of large-scale tours in UK and America through 2008-2010.
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