Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471699
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 JUNE 2022 6 MUSIC IN an otherwise cheerless two- year long pandemic, waiting for UB40's promised arrival to our islands kept many fans going, hoping and with an overall sunny disposition. UB40 will be taking centre stage during this year's edition of the Għaxaq Music Festival at the Għaxaq Grounds on Saturday 23 July. This will be the first-ever ap- pearance on our islands of this iconic, multi-racial raggae group which helped define reggae music for a whole generation. The group features Ali Campbell, the legend- ary voice of UB40. This concert is a fitting memo- rial to Astro, who passed away in November 2021, and it is planned as a celebration of Astro's music who together with Ali forged the original UB40, a group which took the world by storm captivating audiences everywhere they went. Only with Ali Campbell can audiences get to experience the closest thing to the sound of the hugely successful original line-up of UB40 as all the hits play from their three earth-shaking albums. In the line-up are also songs from 'Unprecedented', the fourth and last Ali and Astro album record- ed together. 'Unprecedented' is fueled by the roots -rocking spirit that powered UB40's original in- carnation. It is an album that in- jects a little reggae sunshine into even the darkest of days. UB40's roots dug deep into the reggae and rock steady rhythms of yesteryear and the band end- ed up producing three labour of love albums, which include pure classics such as Kingston Town, Cherry Oh Baby and the chart topper on both sides of the Atlan- tic with their reggae cover of Neil Diamond's Red Red Wine. The concert promises to be yet another extraordinary festive night of music just like 2019's un- forgettable Smokey's concert. The organisers say the aim once again is to recreate an unequivocal fe- verish festa feeling. Tickets are available from www. showshappening.com . All proceeds will go to Embrace Diversity Organization, a volun- tary organisation for children and youths with disabilities. The Għaxaq Music Festival is under the patronage of the Arts Council Malta. UB40 with Ali Campbell to take centre stage at 2022 Għaxaq Music Festival