UB40, The Original Wailers and Level 42 to play the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence

British reggae legends UB40 will play The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury on Saturday 3 June as part of the band’s summer Grandslam UK Tour 2017.

UB40 – featuring original members Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue – backed by The Original Wailers, one of the best reggae bands in the world.

The band will also be joined at the home of Kent Cricket by special guests Level 42, performing their greatest hits, along with The Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson and introducing Raging Fyah.

UB40 have released hit after hit since they formed in 1978, achieving three UK Number Ones (Red, Red Wine, I Got You Babe, ft. Chrissie Hynde and I Can’t Help Falling In Love with You).

Other hits include 17 Top 10 tracks (including One In Ten, If It Happens Again, Breakfast in Bed, Kingston Town and Homely Girl) and a constant stream of singles over the decades, each of which continue to delight fans.

Ali Campbell of UB40 said: “We cannot wait to perform for all our fans in Kent next summer and to pull out all the favourites that our fans love the most.

“The Grandslam Tour is going to be a brilliant experience for both us and the fans, and we are delighted to have Level 42, The original Wailers and the amazing Raging Fyah performing as our special guests, too.”

Level 42 and Mark King are one of the most successful British bands of the 1980’s, and to date they have released 14 studio albums, seven live albums, the Sirens EP, and six compilation albums.

They have also had 18 top 40 singles, including Lessons in Love, Something About You, Leaving Me Now, Running in the Family and Hot Water, and have sold in excess of 30 million albums worldwide.

Mark King of Level 42 said: “To share the stage with such an iconic band as UB40 is an opportunity we could not refuse and we are looking forward to seeing everyone singing and dancing at Canterbury.”

The Original Wailers including guitarist Al Anderson will be performing well-loved Bob Marley and the Wailers songs which promises to be a highlight of the weekend.

Kent Cricket CEO Jamie Clifford said: “There’s a Caribbean flavour to our 2017 schedule with the FGS Plant tour to Antigua followed by the visit of the West Indies to Canterbury so we’re delighted to welcome the most popular UK reggae act of all time.

“UB40 continue our commitment to bringing big acts to Kent and the addition of Level 42 and the Original Wailers will create a festival atmosphere.”

Tickets go on general sale on Friday (25 November) at 10am for £35 + booking fee (General Admission) and £50 + booking fee (Platinum enclosure) viawww.ticketmaster.co.uk

Limited disabled access tickets are available from Kent Cricket while stocks last – to book, call 01227 456 886 (weekdays 9am to 5pm).