UB40 Plays Four Decades of Hit Singles

UB40 formed in Birmingham at the end of the 1970s and built a catalogue of reggae pop singles that crossed into charts worldwide. Le Poisson Rouge presents this New York stop, and the night draws on those hits rather than deep cuts. Horns, keys, and a full rhythm section share the stage. The arrangements stay close to the recorded versions, which is what most of the room turns up for. The tour carries the band across North America through the autumn.

Doors open at 7 in the evening and the hall fills across the hour before the set. You show a ticket at the West 43rd Street entrance and take an assigned seat. Rows loosen as the familiar songs land, and people stand in place rather than pushing forward. Ushers keep the side aisles clear all night, and the dancing stays in front of the seats. Applause runs long between numbers, and the band talks between songs.

The set starts at 8 in the evening on Friday, September 25, at 123 West 43rd Street. Doors open an hour ahead of that. The listing runs all ages. Arriving at doors clears the bag check before the lobby backs up, worth planning for on a Friday. It suits anyone who wants a seated concert with a singalong crowd around them. If you were hoping for a small club set with a late finish, this is not that.