British band lured to North

Legendary British ska band UB40 will be playing at Kainui Vineyard, north of Kerikeri, early next year. Photo / Supplied

Legendary British reggae band UB40 has added a Northland show to their upcoming tour of New Zealand wineries.

Original band members Ali Campbell, Terence "Astro" Wilson and Mickey Virtue will kick off the six-date tour with a concert at Kainui Vineyard, on State Highway 10 just north of Kerikeri, on January 6. It will be their only concert north of Auckland.

Promoter Jackie Sanders, of Jacman Entertainment, said demand for previously announced shows had been so strong that one had been shifted to a bigger venue and a Northland date had been added.

"We're extremely pleased to be able to add another date, especially in Northland as we know the band has many fans in the region who would normally have to travel a lot further to see them," she said.

Kainui Vineyard was a boutique, family-run vineyard with a natural amphitheatre and plenty of parking in surrounding paddocks. It is at the intersection of SH10 and Kapiro Rd. Buses would be put on from other Northland towns.

Ms Sanders said she was hoping for an audience of 5000 but that would depend on the resource consent.

The support acts will be former Opshop frontman Jason Kerrison and Herbs, the legendary reggae band that made their name in the 1980s with songs protesting nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Herbs and UB40 first played together in 1980, during UB40's first visit to New Zealand, and again at the Sweetwaters Festival in 1983.

The other shows in the Red Red Wine Vineyard Tour will be in Hawke's Bay, Rotorua, New Plymouth, North Canterbury and Auckland.

UB40's line-up was unchanged from 1978 to 2008, when frontman Ali Campbell left the band. He was followed shortly afterwards by Mickey Virtue and by Astro in 2013, when the trio got together again under the original name.

Their best-known songs include Red Red Wine, Cherry Oh Baby, Kingston Town, (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You, their cover of I Got You Babe, and Rat in Mi Kitchen.

The name UB40 refers to an unemployment benefit application form.