Great Hall, Cardiff Students Union
Wed 14 Sept
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Thurs 14 Sept
Celebrating 50 years as one of the world’s best loved ska and reggae groups, the legendary Toots And The Maytals are currently midway though one of their biggest ever UK tours. The group arrives in Wales for two dates this September.
Led by the charismatic Toots Hibbert, The Maytals formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1961 and would do as much as any artist to popularise the reggae sound. Universally praised, hits such as Do The Reggay, Pressure Drop, 54-46 That’s My Number, Sweet and Dandy, Monkey Man, Funky Kingston and Reggae Got Soul would come to define the genre and influence countless artists; The Specials, The Clash & Amy Winehouse are just a few artists who have covered songs by the group.
Having toured in recent years with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow and Los Lonely Boys, 2005 saw Toots And The Maytals win a Grammy award for Best Reggae Album with True Love, an album consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards, amongst others.
Anyone who saw Toots & The Maytals’ stunning televised performance at last year’s Glastonbury Festival – not to mention the BBC’s documentary on the group, as part of the acclaimed Reggae Britannia season in February 2011, will testify that the forthcoming tour is a chance to see one of music’s true greats in action.
On the eve of announcing the tour, Toots said from his home in Jamaica, “Everybody knows the UK is like a second home to me, and I haven’t yet been to Wales! so I’m looking forward to seeing all my old friends and making some new ones on this very special anniversary tour.”
COMPETITION
We’ve got two pairs of tickets up for grabs for Toots And The Maytals’ performance at Cardiff University’s Great Hall on Wed 14 Sept. To win, simply answer the following question and send your answers along with your contact details to [email protected]
Q: How many studio albums have Toots And The Maytals released?