In the early ’80s, there was some really funky music coming out of the UK from groups like The Smiths, Madness and a multi-piece reggae band known as UB40.
Formed in Birmingham, with a name inspired by – of all things – the British unemployment benefits card, UB40 was made up of members from all over the world, led by enigmatic front man, Ali Campbell.
Their influence was felt everywhere, even in this cluster of three small islands in the Caribbean Sea. I remember being in sixth form at John Gray High School, with all of us dancing to ‘Red Red Wine’ around our cubicles. Did you know that Neil Diamond actually originally wrote and sang that song? Neither did we, until long after we had all graduated.
Walking home from university in London, I’d have ‘Cherry Oh Baby’, ‘Rat In Mi Kitchen’ and ‘Breakfast in Bed’ coming through my headphones, putting a spring in my step. And who didn’t listen to ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ after a bad breakup?
Well, after years of promoters trying to get UB40 to perform in Cayman, Capella Music Festival has finally pulled it off. Its social media pages made the announcement in the middle of March, and the positive reaction from the public was immediate. In case anyone wondered if it was just a hoax, they only had to go to the supergroup’s website to see the news there as well.
The lineup of the band members changed in 2008, when Ali left due to a dispute with management, followed by Mickey Virtue and Astro. Ali’s brother Duncan took over lead vocals until June 2021 when he retired due to ill health, and now Matt Doyle of Kioko band (also out of Birmingham) has stepped up to the mic. It seems he is equal to the task, with a recent review from the band’s tour of the US stating, “He truly sounds amazing and it IS UB40. He looks comfortable on stage and fits in perfectly.”
Robin Campbell, Ali and Duncan’s brother and a founding member of UB40, is still part of the lineup, playing guitar and adding vocals to the mix.
In 2021, the band released ‘Bigga Baggariddim’, which features guest artists such as Inner Circle and House of Shem.
Other artists announced for the festival on 29 April, at the Festival Green at Camana Bay, are Leann Rimes, KES the Band, Jamaican artist Koffee and Cayman’s own Dan Ebanks and Rico Rolando.
Tickets are on sale on eventpro.ky, with three levels available: General admission, VIP and Premium VIP. Keep up-to-date on all the information by visiting the website capellamusicfestival.com.
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