Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Besides always having a carefully-curated concert line-up, a major point of attraction for Ravinia Festival is being able to bring or purchase a sumptuous spread of food and spirits, especially those who spread out on the spacious lawn.

Although reggae ambassadors UB40 are genre A-listers who reel in a considerable crowd anywhere on earth, there was perhaps no more perfect of a pairing than with the Highland Park hangout, if only for the opportunity to hear “Red Red Wine” in the context of those libations flowing freely throughout the park.

Of course, that’s far from the only staple the 70 million-record selling group with English origins has accumulated since the early 1980s, resulting in fairly constant dance party, even in the pavilion, throughout 100 headlining minutes.

They included highly stylized covers of Al Green’s “Here I Am (Come And Take Me),” The Jackson 5’s “Maybe Tomorrow” and Chicago’s own The Chi-Lites’ “Homely Girl,” crossed with originals such as “Sing Our Own Song,” “One In Ten” and “You Don’t Call Anymore.”

The latest line-up, anchored by guitarist/vocalist Robin Campbell, drummer Jimmy Brown, bassist Earl Falconer and percussion/trombone player Norman Hassan, continued putting its sunny stamp on everything from Jimmy Cliff’s “Many Rivers To Cross,” The Temptations’ “The Way You Do The Things You Do” and Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight,” making the most disparate of styles sound entirely like their own.

In fact, UB40’s version of Neil Diamond’s “Red Red Wine” has proven so popular over the decades, the “Sweet Caroline” singer has since adapted the group’s version, which was recently replicated on the aptly named “UB45” anniversary album and sprung to additional life as a gigantic sing-a-long.

The resounding response initiated an encore of “Food For Thought,” Lord Creator’s “Kingston Town,” and of course, a signature interpretation of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

Far more than merely an opener, The Buena Vista Orchestra consisted of several original members from Cuba’s revered Buena Vista Social Club, who remain committed to reviving the latter Grammy Award-winning troupe’s robust rhythmic legacy and got Ravinia primed for yet another exquisite evening under the stars.

For additional information on UB40, visit UB40.Global.

Upcoming shows at Ravinia include “The Sound Of Music” Sing-Along (Aug. 28); “Infinity Saga” Concert Experience (Aug. 29) and Fiesta Ravinia (Aug. 31). For additional details, visit Ravinia.org.

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