UB40 Visits Curzon Street Studios

Reggae band UB40 were the latest stars to visit Birmingham City University's state of the art Curzon Street Studios, using one of the UK's largest purpose-built TV studios for a photoshoot to unveil their new line-up.

The eight-piece, who have achieved global success from recording and performing since forming in Birmingham in 1978, took over Studio A in the University's Parkside building recently to capture images featuring new lead vocalist Matt Doyle alongside band members. The new assets were unveiled to the band's millions of followers on social media recently.

Birmingham singer Matt joined the band following the announcement that Duncan Campbell was retiring from the band following ill health.

Doyle will already be familiar to many UB40 fans after his previous band KIOKO opened for the Brummie legends' 40th anniversary concert at The Royal Albert Hall in May 2018, before supporting them on their UK tour later that year and their European tour in 2019. Doyle’s lead vocal features on the track 'You Don’t Call Anymore' from UB40's new collaborations album 'Bigga Baggariddum', which was released on Friday 25 June.

Robin Campbell from UB40 said: "Big thanks to BCU for the use of their studio for our latest photo session. Great facilities, great staff, even the security man was delightful, and it’s local, perfect!"

Part of a complete media production suite at Birmingham City University’s city centre campus, Studio A boasts a 14 metre by 17 metre space with a double-height studio( 6.1m) floor to grid.

Acoustically treated and isolated from the main Parkside building, the studio is equipped with a pre-rigged blackout or white cyclorama as well as a full lighting grid.

Curzon Street Studios have hosted commercial campaigns, corporate, online and music videos, with major brands including Sony Television, Microsoft, Jaguar Land Rover, Birmingham City Football Club, NHS, BBC, Channel 4, Bechtel, Gymshark, Gadget Show, and stars like Malala Yousafzai using the facilities recently.

The complex offers a dedicated green room, dressing rooms and WiFi. Broadcast quality facilities also include on-site MILO motion control and mo-cap facilities, four fully broadcast-standard edit suites, dedicated Davinci Resolve 4k grading suite and full broadcast-standard dubbing suites based on a multi-layered ProTools desk.

Arron Sheekey, Business Development and Talent Manager at Birmingham City University’s Curzon Street Studios, said: "We were thrilled to welcome city heroes UB40 to Studio A, which proved to offer more than enough space for photographer Radski and team to work with the band in. Curzon Street Studios has a great history of commercial hire client relationships and this latest visit illustrates the advantages of using our multifunctional and exciting production spaces."