 The story of UB40, and how this group of young friends from Birmingham transcended their working-class origins to become the world’s most successful reggae band is not the stuff of fairytales as might be imagined. The group’s led a charmed life in many respects it’s true, but it’s been a long haul since the days they’d meet up in the bars and clubs around Moseley, and some of them had to scrape by on less than £8 a week unemployment benefit. The choice was simple if you’d left school early. You could either work in one of the local factories, like Robin Campbell did, or scuffle along aimlessly whilst waiting for something else to happen.

By the summer of 1978, something else did happen, and the nucleus of UB40 began rehearsing in a local basement. Robin’s younger brother Ali, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers and James Brown all knew each other from Moseley School of Art, whilst Norman Hassan had been a friend of Ali’s since school. Initially, they thought of themselves as a "jazz-dub-reggae" band, but by the time Robin was persuaded to join and they’d recruited Michael Virtue and Astro – who’d learnt his craft with Birmingham sound-system Duke Alloy – the group had already aligned themselves to left-wing political ideals and forged their own identity, separate from the many punk and Two Tone outfits around at that time. The group had nailed their colours to the mast by naming themselves after an unemployment benefit form. Their political convictions hadn’t been gleaned second hand either, but cemented in place whilst attending marches protesting against the National Front, or rallies organised by Rock Against Racism.

By the time Chrissie Hynde invited them to tour with the Pretenders during the summer of 1980 and their debut single "King b/w Food For Thought" had sailed into the UK Top 5, all the essential elements of UB40 were already in place. Their line-up will remain unchanged for almost thirty years, and they will continue playing a mix of original material and inspired choice of reggae covers in a style that’s instantly accessible with its bright melodies and sweeping horn arrangements – one that’s allied to a formidable rhythm section, capable of holding its own with anything from Jamaica.

UB40’s first album was released the following September, on Graduate Records. Their deal allowed them more creative freedom than if they had signed with a major label. The cover artwork memorably duplicated an unemployment benefit card, with the title "Signing Off" rubber-stamped in red, but it was the music that quickly worked its way into the affections of a young, mainly student crowd with its knowing lyrics, solid reggae rhythms and dubby, instrumental passages, offset by warm horn solos and Jamaican style scatting. There was nothing else like it at the time. As a multi-cultural band from Birmingham, UB40 weren’t drawn into trying to sound "authentic," and there was considerably more depth to their music than that of many punk and 2Tone bands. "I’m a British subject, not proud of it, whilst I carry the burden of shame," they sang on one of the tracks. Accepting the truth of their own situation amidst a sea of other reggae songs proclaiming black heritage gave us a valuable insight into where UB40 were coming from. They were unafraid to stand up and be counted, and British audiences instinctively loved them for it. "Signing Off" duly went to No. 2 in the UK and stayed on the nation’s album charts for 72 weeks.

On September 2nd, 2013, UB40 released their latest album ‘Getting Over The Storm’ on Universal/Virgin Records.

Jalal is a young Paris based Jazz/Hip Hop/Electronic musician and producer. 

Discography :
Jalal: Natuur Anthem & Electric Lady Bug
Vyann Experiences: 1er Voyage & Badass
Deeway: E.C.H.O

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jalal.deparis
Bandcamp: https://jalal1.bandcamp.com


Wilkinson is one of the UK’s most beloved and successful electronic artists. Hailing from South-West London, his first insight into making music came aged 9 when his parents bought him a drum kit. After performing in bands across the UK from the Birmingham NEC to the local old people’s home; everything changed at 14 when
he discovered his passion for dance music. In his final year at college he bought his first production equipment, turned his bed-room into a studio and started a journey that would take him around the world.


After cutting his teeth on legendary drum & bass labels Ram Records & Hospital, Wilkinson would release a run of hit singles like 'Tonight', 'Take You Higher’ and 'Too Close' which cemented hum as one of the most exciting new producers within UK dance music. He had early chart success in the UK Top 40 with his singles 'Half Light',
‘Dirty Love’ and ‘Hopelessly Coping’. Everything changed with the release of his iconic 2013 record ‘Afterglow’, which became a top 5 hit in the UK, sold over 3 million copies, racked up over 500 million streams and became certified triple Platinum in the UK.


To date Wilkinson has sold a mighty 6 million singles and garnered over one BILLION online streams! He’s released three extremely successful solo albums, ‘Lazers Not Included’, ‘Hypnotic’ and ‘Cognition’. The latter released on his own label Sleepless Music became the most successful drum & bass album for over a decade,
charting at #1 on the OCC Official Dance Chart and at #3 in New Zealand’s album charts. The record included two Top 40 hit singles ‘Here For You’ with Becky Hill and the BBC Radio 1 A-List playlisted ‘Used To This’ with Issey Cross.


As well as solo he has amassed a hugely successful discography of hits, including a 2020 collaborative album with fellow Drum & Bass titan Sub Focus, remixes and collaborations with the likes of Rag N Bone Man, The Prodigy, Ed Sheeran, Chase & Status, Wretch 32, Naughty Boy, Laura Mvula and Becky Hill. 


He’s won ‘Best Single’, ‘Best Album’, ‘Best Video’, ‘Best Producer’ and ‘Best Live Act' at the National Drum & Bass Awards, not
to mention the VEVO Viewers Award at the MVA’s. Remarkably he’s also been playlisted by BBC Radio 1 17 times!


On top of his insane release history, Wilkinson has also built a hugely successful live career by consistently touring around the world over the past decade. He’s sold out a remarkable three headline shows at the iconic Brixton Academy, played headlining sets at some of the world’s premiere festivals including Glastonbury, BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend, Reading & Leeds, Creamfields, Snowbombing, Pukkelpop, Sziget, Rhythm & Vines and EDC Las Vegas among many others, held down multiple Ibiza residencies at Amnesia and toured around the world from New York to New Zealand.


In the last year Wilkinson has gone from strength to strength, releasing a string of huge singles including ‘Shine On’ with American dance music superstar Kaskade, ‘Balance’ with newcomer North which spent 10 weeks on the BBC Radio 1 Playlist and official remixes for Calvin Harris, John Summit and KETTAMA. 


For 2025 he shows no signs of slowing down with his two shows at Outernet London selling out in an hour, his biggest NZ festival show ever to over 17,000 people, plus his biggest ever headline show at Alexandre Palace on Nov 8th!

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