Legend Jimmy Cliff has a new album and is headed to Cairns next year.

Fresh from the release of Rebirth, his first album in seven years, Jamaican reggae legend Jimmy Cliff will land in Cairns in March for a one-off show at Tanks Arts Centre.

Rebirth pairs the reggae and pop superstar with award-winning producer and punk legend Tim Armstrong of Rancid fame, who also produced Cliff’s 2011 Sacred Fire EP.

Hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as Cliff’s best music in decades, Rebirth features 13 tracks, including a series of originals alongside some handpicked covers including The Clash’s classic The Guns of Brixton and Rancid’s Ruby Soho.

The release also comes on the 40th anniversary of the release of groundbreaking film The Harder They Come, in which Jimmy starred in the lead role as well as contributing the three now-classic songs to the soundtrack – You Can Get It If You Really Want, Many Rivers To Cross and Sitting In Limbo.

The film earned Jimmy Jamaica’s highest honour – The Order Of Merit – alongside being credited with helping the reggae sound blossom across the globe.

In Rebirth’s autobiographical Reggae Music, Cliff recounts going to see famed Jamaican producer Leslie Kong in 1962 to convince him to work with him, releasing Cliff’s first hit, Hurricane Hattie, when he was only 14.

With fellow Jamaican reggae legends Toots and The Maytals selling out their show at Tanks in April last year in record time, bets are on that Jimmy Cliff’s big Far Northern appearance next year will hit the right note with local reggae fans.

Jimmy Cliff performs at Tanks Arts Centre on March 20. Tickets on sale from ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835.

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