UB40 Bigga Baggariddim tour 2022: dates, tickets for Birmingham Utilita Arena - which band members will play?

The classic reggae band, UB40, will play a hometown show later this year - here’s everything you need to know about the when and the where and we will also tell you how to get tickets.

Birmingham music legends UB40 have announced a homecoming show is to be added to their 2022 tour dates and will take place later this year.

The band, who formed in 1978, took inspiration for their name from the British benefits unemployment card.

It was this card that was used on the cover of their 1980 debut album ‘Signing Off’.

The Bigga Baggariddim tour will see them play in cities across the country, including right here in Birmingham.

The new tour will also be the first with new frontman Matt Doyle.

Why does UB40 have a new frontman?

The band announced in July 2021 that Matt Doyle was to become their new lead singer.

This was a move taken following the retirement of former frontman Duncan Campbell.

Campbell, 63, announced his retirement from music after having a seizure at his home in June last year.

Matt Doyle has previously toured with UB40 with his old band, KIOKO

Doyle will lead the band during their summer shows as well as the tour dates which have been announced for this winter.

Who will be performing for UB40?

Heading out on tour with Doyle are members of the band familiar to fans both young and old.

Founding members drummer Jimmy Brown, guitarist Robin Campbell, bassist Earl Falconer, percussionist Norman Lamont Hassan will be hitting the stage.

These are joined by newer members Martin Meredith who plays saxophone, keyboardist Tony Mullins and trumpeter Laurence Parry.

All three have been a part of the band for many years.

2021 was a sad year for the band with the passing of founding member Brian Travers and long serving vocalist Astro.

When is the Birmingham show?

The Birmingham homecoming show is the first of three in the week leading up to Christmas.

The gig will be the culmination of a busy year for the band, which also includes appearances at a number of music festivals.

The band will play at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Sunday, 18 December.

They will then visit the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 20 December before rounding off the year at SSE Wembley Arena on 21 December.

For the full list of tour dates in 2022 visit the UB40 website 

Have the band released new music?

The band have continued to release music during their career, which now spans over 40 years.

Following on from the successful release of their 2019 original record entitled ‘For The Many’, in July 2021 UB40 released their 21st album Bigga Baggariddim which was seen as a celebration of reggae due to collaborations with artists from all over the world.

Are tickets on sale?

Tickets for UB40’s UK tour date in Birmingham are set to go on sale later this week through Ticketmaster.

Standing and seating tickets for the Utilita Arena show will be available when general sale opens on Friday, 11 March.

Tickets will be available to purchase through Ticketmaster from 10am on Friday.