FOLLOWING their sell-out UK tour earlier this year, reggae stars UB40 will embark on the second leg of a UK tour in October and November – which includes a gig in Burnley on November 22.

The tour’s 18 dates will include UCLan Burnley, on Princess Way, which launches the venue and the town onto the major music circuit.

Event organiser Steve Reid commented: “We are really happy to announce one of the biggest bands in the world coming to Burnley.

“Getting a band of this stature into Burnley totally launches the venue on an international level.

“The concert is open to all; the venue is perfect with excellent parking, food and drink available throughout the night. This is a wonderful chance to see the band ‘up close’ rather than in an arena, and listen to some of the greatest hits of all time.”

Reflecting on the success of the spring leg of the tour, UB40 sax player Brian Travers said: “Playing numerous intimate venues is a much more enjoyable experience for both our audience and the band, compared to playing a handful of enormodomes with the audience stuck 30 feet away behind a safety barrier.

“Every night we were looking at each other and saying “Why didn’t we do this years ago?’ ”

Travers added: “We have always had a close relationship with our audience, but this tour was very special.

“Every night was sold out, but playing venues in the centre of towns gave us the chance to have a beer in the local bars next door - just hanging out and talking with fans who have been our friends for the last 35 years, then playing a gig.”

Looking ahead to the forthcoming tour, Travers said, “We can't wait to get back on the road in the UK in October and November and catch up from where we left off, playing in towns and cities UB40 haven't had the opportunity to perform in before, and also get back to some of the places where we started our wonderful life in music. In the meantime, UB40 will be performing further European dates in France, Belgium, Iceland, Norway and Germany, amongst other countries. See you all soon!”

Naming themselves after the unemployment benefit form, UB40 formed in 1978, before releasing their debut album ‘Signing Off’ in August 1980 – considered by many to be one of the greatest reggae albums ever released by a British band.

It was the start of a career that has since seen the band have over forty UK Top 40 hit singles and achieve sales of over 100 million records, making UB40 one of the most successful British groups of all-time.

The band’s latest Top 30 album Getting Over The Storm was awarded BBC Radio 2’s ‘Album Of The Week’ accolade and received five-star reviews from the UK’s music press on its release in September 2013.

For tickets please go to www.ub40.co.uk