UB40 featuring Ali Campbell announced as the second artist to perform at Dreamland for the Margate Summer Series 2025

One of the UK’s best-loved reggae bands will return to a seaside venue next year for an outdoor concert.

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell will once again perform for crowds at Dreamland as part of next year’s Margate Summer Series, having last played the colourful venue in 2023.
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell have been announced for the Margate Summer Series 2025
The group is the second act to be announced for next summer’s string of outdoor concerts at the open-air attraction, following the news earlier this month that singer Olly Murs will be part of the 2025 series.

The reggae pop act first started performing together in the 1970s, with the peak of their fame coming after the release of their 1983 hit Red Red Wine.

The Neil Diamond cover topped the charts in the UK and helped the band gain popularity overseas.

Their string of singles also include Kingston Town, Can’t Help Falling in Love and I Got You Babe.

The group, which originally included members such as rapper Astro, bassist Earl Falconer and trombonist Norman Hassan, remained together until 2008 when frontman Ali Campbell announced his departure.

In 2014, Campbell, alongside other original members Astro and Mickey Virtue, reunited to perform together under the UB40 name – despite other original members also still gigging together under the same name, with Duncan Campbell stepping in as his brother’s replacement.

Since then, Astro – whose real name was Terence Wilson but was given the nickname after apparently wearing Dr. Martens Astronaut boots to school – passed away at the age of 64 in November 2021.