The rain may have come on Sunday evening but the hits from another amazing night with TK MAXX PRESENTS DEPOT LIVE AT CARDIFF CASTLE poured from the stage like the best retro jukebox in the world. This time around it was Birmingham favourites UB40 FEATURING ALI CAMPBELL.
We’ve covered most of this seasons shows at the Castle but we can tell you this was absolutely packed with thousands of music fans who didn’t stop singing and dancing till the last note was played. In fact outside the castle grounds you could see passers by stopping and soaking up the incredible atmosphere.
Following an opening set from REGGAE ROAST ft MR WILLIAMZ, and really getting the party started was long time friend of UB40 BITTY MCLEAN. He was there with his amazing band, including a superb brass section, and smoothly took us through his catalogue of hits and some much loved reggae favourites.
Bitty proudly claimed he was over 50 and was loving performing more than ever, but as he took us through some of his best known songs we noticed how many younger fans were clearly loving the smooth sound of his faultless voice.
Bitty McLean has toured with the original UB40 and having him as support on this show was perfect. It’s not often we say this but we would definitely pay good money to see Bitty out on his own tour, something the Cardiff crowd clearly agreed with.
As the clouds parted and gave us a break from the rain, it seemed fitting that Bitty and his band struck up his 1993 hit ‘It Keeps Raining (Tears From my Eyes‘. Never has a song felt so welcome and loved, as you can see from our video below.
As we took a short break, fans grabbed their drinks and made a beeline for any spare blade of grass or tarmac they could find, the headline act was a set no one wanted to miss. As ALI CAMPBELL was welcomed to the stage, UB40 burst into ‘If It Happens Again‘, with its distinctive brass opening, and the party was well and truly underway.
For those of us who remember buying their debut album ‘Signing Off‘, pretty much 45 years ago to the day, would have been waiting for songs from what is still considered to be their best. But what’s also easy to forget is that UB40 have ruled the charts and airwaves with a mix of original and classic covers, and last night we had them all.
From the singalong favourite ‘Homely Girl‘ to ‘Kingston Town‘ and ‘Many Rivers to Cross‘ it’s clear these are songs that mean so much to many of us in the audience. While we all may have gotten older, and like the guy next to me complaining about his back hurting because he couldn’t dance like he used to, the one thing that hasn’t changed is Ali’s voice.
As you can hear in the introduction – Ali has a ‘sweet, sweet voice‘ which has made him a legend in popular music. It’s easy to see why the band were honoured with a music heritage award for being one of the world’s most successful reggae bands – you can see the plaque in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
We went for a stroll around the grounds as the band played through an incredible set and I don’t think we’ve ever seen as many smiling faces as fans danced through hit after hit.
Gigs like this always throw up special moments and for me it was the duets of of Cathy’s Clown and Would I Lie with velvet voiced support artist Bitty Mclean. Unbeknown to anyone, Cathy’s Clown was my late Mum’s favourite, and as she passed when she was only 36 I couldn’t help but raise a smile, and a tear to her.
The band were great, Ali was superb, as always, but our chorus of Welsh voices were also mighty fine too. When we all came together for ‘Red Red Wine‘ and ‘Kingston Town‘ before a finale of their huge hit ‘(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You’, we couldn’t have asked for a better end to a perfect night.
TK Maxx presents Depot Live at Cardiff Castle continues on Saturday with headliner Jess Glynne.
- JUL 26 DEPOT IN THE CASTLE – JESS GLYNNE + MAXIMO PARK + SIGMA + KATE NASH + PROFESSOR GREEN + GLC + BLUE DOLPHIN WRANGLERS
- JUL 30 FONTAINES DC + KAE TEMPEST + HIGH VIS
- JUL 31 PET SHOP BOYS + DAVE PEARCE
- AUG 1 FAITHLESS + KOSHEEN + CHICANE
- AUG 20 TOM JONES + STONE FOUNDATION
- AUG 21 TOM JONES + STONE FOUNDATION
- AUG 24 BASEMENT JAXX + EZRA COLLECTIVE + EATS EVERYTHING
- AUG 25 WILL SMITH + NILE RODGERS & CHIC
