UB40, Bitty McLean – Lincoln Castle – Saturday 21st June 2025

bitty mclean

Bitty McLean is an ideal support act for UB40 as their music compliments each other very well. This isn’t always the case with support acts. It’s often as if the headliner isn’t even aware of the support act and there is often a disconnect between acts. Far better that they are from the same genre of music so fans can enjoy both and actually be warned up to the main act. And this is the case here. It’s clear that there is cross over between the two bands musically and that everyone is very familiar and friendly. Bitty McLean is putting on a great show and the fans are waving their arms, clapping, singing, and enjoying themselves as if this was the headline act. High praise.

UB40

UB40 hit the stage to huge applause and delight from the crowd. They are full of energy and clearly on good form tonight. A band member introduces Ali Campbell as the “Best ever reggae singer.” And whilst everyone in attendance is happy to go along with this (if perhaps for one night only) I do think that Bob Marley (and a few others) might rightly take some offence! Regardless of current living/dead status.

UB40’s set is packed with crowd pleasers mostly in the form of covers such as Homely Girl (The Chi-Lites), Would I Lie To You (Charles and Eddie) and Cherry Oh Baby (Eric Donaldson). But when band the calibre of UB40 cover a song it often ends up becoming the more famous version – for example two of their biggest hits that come in the encore Red Red Wine was originally a Neil Diamond song, and Kingston Town was originally written and recorded by a veteran ska, rocksteady and calypso singer Lord Creator in 1970. But it’s all good. The Lincoln Castle crowd are loving it and the atmosphere is chilled on another warm and sunny evening in Lincolnshire’s sole city.

covers and originals

Ali Campbell must be getting paid by the word because he doesn’t sing on every song and I don’t think he speaks once. He allows one of the other band members to take on MC duties – which is common in live reggae music performances. It certainly doesn’t have an adverse effect on a night of great reggae music, if he’s saving his voice for singing, then it’s working perfectly.

Original UB40 tracks Burden Of Shame, Matter Of Time, and Bring Me Your Cup are absolutely brilliant as is Many Rivers to Cross which completes the main set. As the sun goes down and the wind picks up swirling around the castle the encore begins with a couple of snippets including Baby Come Back and Rat In Mi Kitchen, before One In Ten starts to bring things to a close. Red Red Wine is re-started twice for the crowd to sing along which they do – loudly and enthusiastically. Kingston Town and a cover of Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love complete the set.

The band take their bows and applause. And the gig ends with a taped singalong of Ali Campbell and Chrissie Hyde singing a cover of Sonny and Cher’s I Got You Babe as happy concert-goers leave the venue.

UB40 online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X-Twitter

Bitty McLean online: Facebook / Instagram

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