UB40 wows fans in Windhoekt
28th February 2011
The award-winning UK-based band is renowned for its lively gigs and the three Windhoek gigs were no exception, as they proved concerts of a lifetime when UB40 delivered on their promise and put up spectacular shows that lasted around midnight to raise funds for dozens of orphans at Hope Village in Rehoboth.
With the support of local and South African artists, good times could never have been this good. Many described the shows as the best concerts ever to hit Namibia.
Even without Ali Cambpell, the lead singer and founder who quit the band in 2008, UB40 pulled off a stunning performance, which Namibians will not forget easily.
The highlight of the nights were definitely the band’s anthemic ‘Red Red Wine’, and other smash hits namely:
‘I Got You Babe’, ‘Cherry Oh Baby’, ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’, ‘Here I Am (Come And Take Me)’, ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ and ‘Tell Me Is It True.’ The appreciative audience, some of them possibly under the influence of red wine, not only swayed to the beat but also sang in unison with the group.
Saturday’s show was the best because it also drew possibly the largest group of concert-goers ever seen at a single concert in Namibia and the atmosphere was simply electric though the crowd was also well-behaved, while security was visible.
On Saturday like at Friday’s show UB40 performed songs from their new album and they also generously belted out extra songs when the fans started screaming: “We want more, we want more, we want more.”
New Era caught up with the lively band yesterday, as it was just about to board a plane to London.
“I am happy to be in Namibia. I feel honoured to play music here,” said Brian Travers, a saxophonist. He said that they would definitely come back although he did not say when.
“We want to come and make music with the children, get them singing and teach them some choreography. We want to see if we can inspire them,” he added.
Travers said the crowd was incredible, especially on Saturday. He also loved the nightlife, especially at Cheers and at Fashion Bar. He remarked that he would definitely love to take a holiday here and bring his family along.
The UB40 band plans to finish the new album they are working on before performing all over Europe and travel to America for the summer festival.
Travers said he was very surprised by the standard of Namibian artists and although he felt it was not fair to mention one or the other, he singled out South African songstress Winnie Khumalo, the Upambians, Pennylane, Gal Level, Faizel MC and Elemotho as some of the most remarkable.
“I had an absolutely fantastic time,” said Duncan Cambpell, who replaced his brother Ali. He said visiting Hope Village was a roller coaster for him, seeing the children.
Deryck Sinclair, one of the organisers of the show, said that they got many compliments for the show.
“Namibians really enjoyed this show.” He said that UB40 told them, if they wanted the band to come back, all they had to do was ask.
He could not give a number of people that attended the show, but said that the attendance was beyond their expectations, especially on Saturday when the biggest crowd assembled.
Sinclair could not say how much was raised, but the project definitely put Hope Village on the map.
Tickets for the three concerts ranged from N$150 to N$1 000 while an extra N$100 was charged for fans that bought tickets at the gate.
All proceeds from the charity show will be used to build a Hope Village child-care facility in Rehoboth.
Source: New Era |
