Toots and The Maytals celebrate 50 years with UK tour

Celebrating 50 years as one of the world's best loved ska and reggae groups, the legendary Toots and The Maytals are set to play the biggest UK tour of their illustrious career in August and September 2011, including a date at O2 Academy Brixton, London on Friday 9th September.

Led by the charismatic 'Toots' Hibbert, The Maytals formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1961. 'Toots' popularised the reggae sound with 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'.

On the eve of announcing his UK tour, 'Toots' said from his home in Jamaica, 'Everybody knows the UK is like a second home to me, so I'm looking forward to seeing all my old friends and making some new ones on this very special anniversary tour.'

Over the last five decades, 'Toots' has influenced countless artists including The Specials, The Clash to Amy Winehouse, and has toured with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow and Los Lonely Boys.

More recently, Toots and The Maytals won a Grammy Award in 2005 for 'Best Reggae Album' with 'True Love'. The album consisted of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.

Anyone who saw Toots and The Maytals' stunning performance at last year's Glastonbury Festival, not to mention the BBC's documentary about the group, as part of their acclaimed 'Reggae Britannia' season (February 2011), will testify that these dates are a must-see opportunity to witness one of reggae music's true greats, live in action.

TOUR DATES:

29th August Cardiff The Great Hall
31st August Newcastle O2 Academy
1st September Glasgow O2 Academy
2nd September Leeds O2 Academy
4th September Wolverhampton The Civic
6th September Ipswich The Regent
7th September Liverpool O2 Academy
8th September Brighton Brighton Dome
9th September London O2 Academy Brixton
11th September Bristol O2 Academy
13th September Oxford O2 Academy