Forestry England will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026 with a series of concerts headlined by reggae legends UB40.
The Birmingham band, led by Al Campbell, will perform at four venues in June: Delamere Forest, High Lodge in Thetford Forest, Westonbirt Arboretum and Cannock Chase Forest.
UB40
UB40 are no strangers to the ‘Forest Live’ concert series having played numerous times since 2006, and are looking forward to returning for the milestone year.
Campbell, the band’s founder and voice behind their biggest hits, said: “When I first founded UB40 back in 1978, I put everything I had into it – including the compensation money I’d received from a criminal injury claim.
“None of us could have imagined we’d go on to sell over 100 million records and take reggae from Birmingham to the world. It’s been an incredible journey, and coming back to play Forest Live in such beautiful surroundings is the perfect way to celebrate with our fans.”
A big deal
Over their long career, UB40 have become one of the UK’s most successful groups, taking reggae into the mainstream with a blend of original songs and famous covers including “Red Red Wine”, “I Got You Babe” and “(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You”. Campbell continues to lead the current line-up, keeping alive the legacy of hits such as “Cherry Oh Baby” and “Kingston Town”.
Support acts for the 2026 shows include fellow Brummie reggae star Bitty McLean and Reggae Roast featuring MC Horseman, a veteran of the UK scene.
A noble cause
Forest Live is presented by Forestry England in partnership with Cuffe & Taylor. Proceeds from the events help maintain the nation’s forests, fund conservation projects, and support the planting of over seven million trees each year. More than 2.5 million people have attended the gigs over the past 25 years.
