UB40 make grand return for 40th anniversary

UB40 is set to perform at Church Rd, Napier in January 2019. Photo / File

UB40 Featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey have announced a massive line-up for their 40th anniversary tour next January.

The group is known as one of Britain's biggest reggae bands and has just released its album A Real Labour Of Love.

The show is on January 25, 2019 at Church Rd, Napier, with special guests Tiki Taane and Opshop.

UB40 singer Ali Campbell, second vocalist Astro and keyboardist Mickey Virtue topped the UK singles chart on three occasions and sold 70 million records as they took their smooth yet 'rootsy' musical blend to all corners of the globe.

Between 1983 and 1998 UB40 produced three Labour Of Love albums, bringing hits such as Eric Donaldson's Cherry Oh Baby, Lord Creator's Kingston Town and Johnny Osbourne's Come Back Darling to a new, global audience.

They also topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic with their reggae cover of Neil Diamond's Red Red Wine.

Joining them is unique artist Tiki Taane, one of the country's most well-known and diverse artists and considered a 'pioneer' in the New Zealand music scene.

He was the frontman of leading band Salmonella Dub and embarked on his solo career in 2007. Since then he's been firing up audiences with his powerful live performances and much-loved musical numbers.

Taane will perform his 'one man band' show at the Church Road Winery show in Napier.

Accompanying the band will also be Opshop, which burst on to the New Zealand music scene in 2004 quickly became one of the 'most-loved rock acts of the generation.'

Its debut album sold Platinum, while the second went 3x Platinum and the third and final album also hit #1.

Well-known tracks include Big Energy in Little Spaces, No Ordinary Thing, Love Will Always Win, One Day and Maybe, plus multiple awards and accolades.

Organisers said it was extremely exciting that the group made the rare decision to head to Napier, Nelson and Christchurch.