Reggae, ska and rocksteady favourite Toots and the Maytals perform an eleven date UK tour including a Manchester gig at Manchester Academy.
The Maytals, led by the irrepressible force of nature Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert, formed in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1961. The group would go on to bring the reggae sound to the masses with pioneering hits such as ‘Do The Reggay’ (widely acknowledged as the first song ever to feature the word ‘reggae’), ‘Pressure Drop’, ‘54-46 (That’s My Number)’, ‘Sweet and Dandy’, ‘Monkey Man’, ‘Funky Kingston’ and ‘Reggae Got Soul’.
Across six decades, Toots’ raw, gospel-infused vocals and life-affirming music has influenced countless artists, including The Specials, The Clash and Amy Winehouse, and has toured with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow and Los Lonely Boys.
A five-time Grammy nominee, Toots & The Maytals won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Reggae album with True Love. The album featured re-recorded classic hits alongside popular and legendary artists, including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots and Shaggy.
Speaking about performing in the UK, Toots commented, “The UK is a home from home for Toots and The Maytals, so we’re looking forward to seeing all our friends during our tour. To bring joy with my music is my greatest aspiration. We give 100 percent every night, and our fans give us that energy right back every time.”
When do Toots and the Maytals perform at Manchester Academy?
Toots and the Maytals headline at Manchester Academy on Friday 19 October 2018.