FANS were left asking if April Fools’ Day had come early after Birmingham City announced fans who attend their match with Preston will get to see a UB40 concert for free.
Championship side Blues joined forces with the Second City’s most famous band to officially launch the club’s naming rights partnership, St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, on Monday 1 April 2024.
And the World Premiere of the band’s new album UB45 will be thrown in by the club's new American ownership to mark the occasion.
The event will be UB40’s ‘kick off’ concert for their extensive 2024 World Tour and forms part of an Easter Day double-header with Blues' match against Preston kicking off at 3pm.
The UB40 concert is included in the price of the ticket for the match and will start at 5.45pm after the match and will last for an hour.
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The English ska band, who have had more than 50 UK hit singles and sold more than 70 million records worldwide, are thrilled to be finally playing at St Andrew's - 35 years after they last performed there.
Guitarist and founder member of UB40, Robin Campbell said: “UB40 and Blues are Birmingham.
"It has always been the band's ambition to play at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park again. We did it in 1989 and it was amazing.
"We would like to thank Garry Cook (Birmingham City CEO) and his team for the opportunity to make our dream a reality.
"Our music is from the terraces and streets of this great city. Everything we do starts in and speaks of Birmingham.
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"So, we could not be prouder to perform a World Premiere of the new album and kick off our World Tour after the Preston match at a place that we call home.”
Supporters can expect to hear the much-loved classic hits along with a sprinkling of new material from the upcoming ‘UB45’ album on a pre-built stage behind the goal in the Gil Merrick Lower Stand.”
However, some were left completely bemused at the announcement as they took to X following the news.
One joked: “Incredible scenes when people turn up, UB40 aren’t there and it turns out it was the most elaborate, April fools, joke ever created.”
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Another echoed those sentiments by asking: “April fools?”
As another wrote tongue-in-cheek: “Tbf every one will be going home by 330 when we're 2 down to preston.”
However, others were delighted with the news.
One commented: “Fair play to all involved for putting it on and trying to do something different.”
Another joked: “Doubled the attendance that day.”
While a third said: “So looking forward to this! Brilliant!”
