PNG to be regular stopover on UB40 world tours

Caption: UB40 band members (L) Mickey, Astro, and Ali Campbell.

 

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 25, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

FOLLOWING last night’s UB40 stadium concert at the Sir John Guise stadium, the country is now confirmed as an official concert stopover in future world tours for the world famous reggae band.

Visiting for the second time since 2014- the band comprising of founding members Ali Campbell, Astro, and Mickey Virtue said that the band was still promoting its latest album ‘Silhouette’. 

 

“The whole point of us being here is that we are now trying to establish Papua New Guinea as part of our regular touring schedule for a world tour,” Astro said.

“Papua New Guinea is a big part of that schedule.

“If we can prove that we can do good shows here, that sort of encourages promoters and agents to bring other acts in,” Ali added.

“People need to have the confidence and they know that it can happen. They only get that confidence by watching other people do it. We kind of like to be pioneers.”

The band said that they were excited to be back in the country; having had a great time when they last visited, but anticipated a better experience with a much bigger crowd last night.

“We had a great time last time. We played to a very select few and what we are up for this time is to play to as many people as possible and this time we are playing to a stadium for the local people to come and enjoy just like anywhere else we play around the globe,” said Astro.

“Papua New Guinea is now a part of our tour schedule. To do a world tour Papua New Guinea has to be included. We play a lot in Australia and New Zealand and now we want to get out to the islands.”