English reggae band UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, have announced they will headline the Saturday night of the Telford Concert Series next year.
The band will be performing at the Telford QEII Arena on Saturday 8 July 2023 with N DUBZ already announced as the Sunday headliners.
Ali Campbell
Ali Campbell, the founding member and lead singer of UB40, left the original band in 2008 citing management issues, and was vindicated when said managers were struck off. Ali was then reunited with Astro when he left the original band in 2013. Ali and Astro took the world by storm, captivating audiences everywhere they went, releasing three new albums together reaching number 2 in the UK charts. Heartbreakingly, Astro passed away after a very short illness in November 2021 after they’d finished their incredible fourth album – Unprecedented.
Ali Campbell can still remember the first time he met Astro, a musician who would have a profound impact on him as a lifelong friend and bandmate. It was in Birmingham in the late 1970s, when the pair were in their teens and Astro was part of a crew of black skinheads who roamed the local neighbourhood in sheepskin coats, leaving Ali slightly in awe.
Astro, born Terence Wilson, got his nickname on account of his fondness for Dr. Martens boots emblazoned with the brand name Astronaut. When he joined up with singer and guitarist Campbell a few years later in the fledgling UB40, supplying additional vocals and playing trumpet and percussion, he added the final piece to a musical jigsaw that went on to conquer the charts and put British reggae on the world map.
“Astro’s death came as such a shock, and I’m still reeling from it,” says Ali. “This album is now more poignant and special than either of us could have imagined when we were recording it. Astro heartbreakingly passed just two weeks after we’d finished the final mixes, so this is a way of keeping his memory alive.”
N DUBZ will perform on Sunday
N DUBZ has been announced as the Sunday night headliners of the Telford Concert Series.
The Telford Concert Series is delivered by three-time UK Live Regional Promoter of The Year Orchard Live and returns in 2023 after five highly successful shows at the QEII Arena (Telford Town Park). With past shows being Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Olly Murs, Tom Grennan and Tears For Fears.
Connor Cupples of Orchard Live said: “The reaction to the N-Dubz announcement was unprecedented, so we are thrilled to follow it up by announcing Saturday night headliners, the legendary UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell. I’m sure these gigs will be the shows of the summer!’’
Telford & Wrekin Council leader, Councillor Shaun Davies, said:
“This will be our third year working with Orchard Live to bring headline music acts to Telford. We are proud to ensure our residents have access to national events like this on their doorstep as part of our investment to ensure our borough is a more enjoyable place to live.
By providing the QEII Arena at Telford Town Park as a venue for the concerts means Orchard Live are able to bring their headline acts to our borough. The concerts are hosted and funded by Orchard Live and we work with them to attract a local and regional audience boosting our economy.”
Tickets for Telford Concert Series 2023
Tickets for both Telford Concert Series will go on sale from 12pm Friday 25 November 2022.
Tickets should only be purchased via ticketstelford.com – gigantic.com – Ticket Factory and See Tickets.
Fans are being encouraged to not purchase tickets through secondary ticket sites such as Viagogo, tickets are listed at inflated prices and will not be valid for entry to the event.
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