All 6,000 tickets for UB40's open-air concert have sold out on the same day they were put on sale. The Birmingham-based band will head to Thetford Forest's High Lodge on Friday 9 June to launch their seven-date trip of the nation's wooded concert venues. It is the first time gig organisers at the Forestry Commission have put together a tour with so many dates, which they say has been successful in drawing world-famous acts. "It's the first year we've been able to offer seven sites and it gives us the ability to put on the bigger names," said Anne Embry, Thetford Forest's promotions manager. High demand UB40's ticket sales for the High Lodge concert have outstripped demand for all other venues on the forest tour. "It's been unprecedented for us, how quickly they've sold," said Anne. "We sold 3,500 tickets before lunch time and it became clear it was going to be a sellout. We're thrilled." Thetford Forest staff believe one of the reasons the tickets have been snapped up is because they've listened to gig fans who have attended previous summer concerts.  | | Madness's Suggs at Thetford by Lee Allen |
"With Madness last year, we spoke to people afterwards who said they'd like to see UB40," said Anne. "We're putting on the bands that our audience wants and that's pleasing us very much," she added. Established name UB40, who got together in 1978, are one of the longest-established names working the gig circuit. Brothers Ali and Robin Campbell continue to lead the eight-piece band, which has sold 50m records to score classic hits with Red, Red Wine, Rat In The Kitchen and Don't Break My Heart. For the summer tour, UB40 will be playing their best-known tracks alongside songs from their latest album, Who Are You Fighting For. While reggae will reverberate from the open-air stage on 9 June, guitar band Embrace will fill the night air with rock-based sounds the following evening for the venue's first weekend of summer concerts. A third announcement for a July gig is expected next week. | 
