Words by staff writer
UB40 are bringing Soul II Soul along for six shows across Australia and New Zealand, with Melbourne landing Margaret Court Arena.
UB40 are marking 50 years in music with a run across Australia and New Zealand: the Unstoppable World Tour.
UB40 formed in Birmingham in the late 1970s and have spent five decades keeping reggae in the charts, ranking among the UK’s most successful musical exports. British soul and R&B group Soul II Soul come along at every stop, setting up a bill of hits, nostalgia and dancing.
UB40
- 17 May 2027 – Ice Cream Factory, Perth
- 19 May 2027 – AEC Theatre, Adelaide
- 20 May 2027 – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
- 22 May 2027 – TikTok Entertainment Centre (ICC), Sydney
- 23 May 2027 – Riverstage, Brisbane
- 26 May 2027 – Spark Arena, Auckland
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
The band have shifted more than 100 million albums worldwide, notched over 50 UK hit singles and placed 11 records in the UK Top 10, pairing sharp political and social commentary with chart-ready dance tracks. A new record is on the way under the Unstoppable banner, from a group that remains the biggest-selling touring reggae act on record.
The current 11-piece still counts four founders in its ranks, with Robin Campbell, Norman Hassan, Earl Falconer and Jimmy Brown playing together since 1978. Brass players Martin Meredith and Laurence Parry have been part of the horn section for more than 30 years.
Robin’s son Matt Campbell sings backing vocals, joined by Jamaican keys player Jahred Gordon, MC Gilly G and frontman Matt Doyle, five years into the role. The group last sold out here in 2024 behind the Top five album UB45. Presale opens at 9am on 11 August, with general tickets from 9am on 13 August.
Soul II Soul, the Grammy-winning group behind Back To Life and Keep On Movin, bring their fusion of soul, reggae and dance to all six shows. Founder Jazzie B and vocalist Charlotte Kelly lead the current line-up, already a live favourite in this part of the world after sets at Golden Plains and WOMADelaide.
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