Express & Star

Ultimate 40 play out silky sounds at The Robin 2, Bilston

The silky sounds of reggae soothed a 100-strong crowd during a festive gig in the Black Country.

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Ultimate 40 in action at The Robin 2

Ultimate 40, a tribute act to Birmingham-based UB40, played classics such as Red Red Wine, Kingston Town and Maybe Tomorrow at Bilston's The Robin 2.

The tribute act, also hailing from Birmingham, was impressed with the crowd turn out during Boxing Day.

Band manager Andy Cliff said: "The gig went really well. People were saying we were the best live band we have sever seen.

"There was quite a few people in the crowd for a Boxing Day gig. I would say easily over 100 people.

"We have played there many times before and normally get crowds of 300 and 400 but it was a Boxing Day."

Other UB40 hits the band, made up of eight members, played include Rat In Mi Kitchen.

The band is dubbed the best tribute act to UB40 in Europe.

However Mr Cliff, who put the band together three-and-a-half years ago, said the band aren't interested in that accolade.

He continued: "Everybody wants to say they are the best, number one.

"I would say to my lads, when we make that, it is time to give up.

"We don't need to prove ourselves. We have got a lot of expert musicians in the band, it is not just a bunch of mates down the pub.

"They are from a professional background."

UB40 was formed in December, 1978, in Birmingham as a reggae and pop band. The group has sold more than 70 million records worldwide and are considered one of the one of the best-selling reggae acts of all time.

Their achievements were commemorated with a ceremonial plaque in 2011, which was placed at the Hare & Hounds pub, in Kings Heath, Birmingham, where the band played their first gig.