Music News Australia: Ali Campbell's UB40 With Billy Ocean Big Mountain At State Theatre, Sydney

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Ali Campbell's UB40 With Billy Ocean Big Mountain At State Theatre, Sydney

Ali Campbell

The State Theatre in the heart of Sydney presented Ali Campbell's UB40 Tour with special guests Billy Ocean and Big Mountain.

If you enjoy the sounds of reggae and Caribbean music then you would have loved this.

The voice that was behind the hits "Red Red Wine" and "Can't Help Falling In Love" is now on stage singing to a different tune, nonetheless one that will still resonate strongly with audiences.

McManus Entertainment promotional pitch...

McManus Entertainment is delighted to announce Ali Campbell's UB40 Australian Tour featuring special guests Billy Ocean, plus Big Mountain featuring Junior Marvin. With shows in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, this is a show not to be missed for lovers of Reggae and Caribbean music.

With one of the world’s most distinctive and recognisable voices, Ali Campbell, the ex-UB40 ...frontman and original vocalist of massive worldwide hits "Red Red Wine", "Kingston Town" and "Can’t Help Falling In Love", returns to Australia with his new band. As lead singer with the world-renowned group UB40, Campbell has sold over 70 million records worldwide, toured across the globe, notched up four number No. 1 worldwide singles, over 40 Top 40 UK singles, released 24 studio albums and received an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement.

Having sold over 30 million records worldwide Grammy-winning Billy Ocean has created a distinct and unique sound with hits like “Love Really Hurts Without You”, “Caribbean Queen”, “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” and one of the biggest hits of the 80’s, “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car”.

Big Mountain helped catapult Jamaican music to the mainstream with their cover of Peter Frampton’s “Baby I Love Your Way”. The group sold over a million copies of their album Unity featuring the smash hits “Sweet Sensual Love” and “Baby, I Love Your Way”. Joining Big Mountain on stage is Junior Marvin. Hailing from Bob Marley and The Wailers he first appeared on Marley’s legendary album Exodus and all Bob Marley and The Wailers albums since then.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see some of reggae’s best and well-loved artists in an intimate setting on one special night!

Background on Ali Campbell and UB40...

Ali Campbell, his brother and some mates began UB40 in the late 1970's in a basement in Birmingham. He started the band to promote his love of reggae.

With the strong political sentiment in their music, UB40 reflected angrily on Margaret Thatcher's Britain. He tells the press "We were quite angry, we felt like we'd been thrown away". Their message was obviously heard, as their phones were tapped by MI5. UB40 would go on to sell more than 70 million records around the world and produce 40 top ten hits in Britain.

In January 2008 he had an acrimonious split with the band. He was replaced by brother Duncan, but the pair have apparently not spoken since.

Ali Campbell is in Australia with his new band, still performing hits like Red Red Wine and Kingston Town.