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The best tribute acts to see in the UK
Of course, seeing a tribute artist will never be quite like seeing the original. But here's a swathe of acts who provide a mean alternative
There are songs that we individually hold dear. There are songs that have changed our lives immeasurably. There are songs we all know and love.
There are also songs, however, that we might never get to hear up-close-and-personal, in the flesh, in a room with thousands of fellow fans who share the same affinity with a certain verse or epic chorus. Be it because of frayed tempers between bandmates who flat out refuse to reunite, the burnt out stars who no longer have the appetite to perform or tour anymore, or the icons and legends who are sadly no longer with us, sometimes it’s just not possible.
That’s why there’s a demand to be filled by tribute acts, who reimagine the musical moments we’ve cherished or recreate the moments we never got the chance to experience.
Of course, it’ll never be quite like seeing the original. But there are a swathe of tribute acts nowadays who provide a mean alternative – and a knee-slapping night out to boot.
In no particular order, here’s a comprehensive list of the very best tribute acts to see in 2025:
Björn Again
The Aussies have long championed ABBA, even through the decades when they were deemed painfully uncool – well, if you take misfit movies like Muriel’s Wedding and Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert into consideration. So, who better placed to pay tribute to the iconic Swedes of pop than their admirers from Down Under?
Brimming with tongue-in-cheek humour and heart, Björn Again have been “digging the dancing queen” since 1988 when Rod Stephen started the ABBA tribute show at a pub in a suburb of Melbourne. Fast forward nearly 40 years and Björn Again have sang ‘Dancing Queen’ on stage alongside U2, opened Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid Stage on several occasions, performed at private parties for the likes of Bill Gates, Russell Crowe and Vladimir Putin, and were even invited to play at Reading Festival by headliners Nirvana in 1992, as odd as that sounds.
Praised by ABBA themselves, Benny Andersson claimed: “Björn Again are the closest you can get to seeing ABBA.” That was some years before ABBA Voyage wowed the masses, but still, Björn Again are absolutely worth witnessing.
The Bootleg Beatles
Some would argue that The Beatles are the greatest band to ever grace this very Earth. Some would also argue that it’s sacrilege attempting to recreate the life-changing music they made. But those kinds of naysayers probably haven’t seen The Bootleg Beatles.
Formed in 1980 – ten years after the Fab Four called it a day – The Bootleg Beatles have gone through various line-up changes, though their made-to-measure suits and floppy moptop wigs have remained intact.
Throughout the 4,000 plus gigs they’ve played since, the band can count George Harrison as one of their audience members, who jested “you probably know the chords better than I do” to one of the members after seeing them live. That was before he quipped “where’s the Bootleg Brian Epstein? ‘Cos he’s got all the money!” according to founder Neil Harrison who in 2011 left the tribute group, passing the baton on to new generations of the iconic band’s fans who want to do their timeless songs justice. And they do.
Michael Starring Ben
Michael Jackson’s impact on pop music cannot be overstated enough. His voice, his songwriting, his moves all broke new ground in ways that might’ve seemed unfathomable before he Moonwalked on stage. Thankfully, Ben Bowman aka Michael Starring Ben manages to replicate his eye-popping performances with A-star choreography and an angelic voice which carries the very essence of MJ. The tagline for the show says it all really: “The man, the music, and the magic.”
Nirvana UK
It takes some doing to channel the pain and turmoil Kurt Cobain poured into his generational grunge band Nirvana. Nirvana UK (no prizes for ingenuity with their name however) achieve this a visceral intensity that must be as exhausting for them as it is compelling for the crowds that amass to see them. Earning rave reviews for sounding exactly like the real thing, Nirvana UK are a must-see for anyone with a penchant for the grunge icons. Just remember to adorn your biggest cardigan and scruffiest jeans.
ELO Experience
Jeff Lynne might not have fulfilled his wish of seeing out ELO’s journey in style after he had to cancel their BST Hyde Park headline concert this year, but it’s easy to imagine his fans being just as gutted. Never fear: the ELO Experience is here.
Donning the same aviator sunglasses and permed hair that have seemingly stopped Lynne from aging for nearly half a century, the tribute band’s singer John Rowen is a life-long ELO devotee who now gets to fulfil his own dream of singing the songs he loves on stage himself. And you can tell – entertaining their crowds with genuine panache in-between songs, the band have earned rave reviews for recreating ELO’s intergalactic strange magic.
The Clone Roses
“The Clones have long been the best,” according to The Guardian, and the tribute act’s legion of dedicated fans proves it. The Stones Roses have got back together on several occasions, though their reunions have often been fleeting. Thankfully, The Clone Roses are ready to answer the call, bringing the Madchester mainstays’ music to the masses. Most impressively, The Clones’ headlined the beloved Spike Island site on the banks of the river Mersey in front of a sell-out 15,000 strong crowd, once live music returned in 2021 after it was brought to a halt by the pandemic. Few tribute bands have that sort of respect.
The Smyths
Given his tendency to cancel shows, it’s difficult enough as it is to see Morrissey live. So, you can expect the chances of ever getting to see The Smiths reunite are slim to zilch. Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr have reportedly been offered between the sums of $5 million and $75 million to tour again, but even those sorts of eye-watering sums can’t convince the two to reconcile.
The Smyths foresaw this in 2003 when they formed to give the band’s fans a chance to see and hear them live. Now widely considered as the foremost tribute to The Smiths, The Smyths have racked up over 1000 shows around the world, likely prompting the band’s hardcore fans to even question if they want or need a Smiths reunion.
Definitely Mightbe
The odds against (formerly) embittered brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher were somewhat stacked before they announced a cosy reunion, resulting in what can only be described as the biggest tour for a rock band in recent memory. Not everyone was lucky enough to see the siblings embrace on stage, but never fear: Definitely Mightbe are definitely the next best thing. Buzzing with the bolshy attitude we’ve come to know and love from Oasis, you’ll be doing the Poznan from start to finish at one of their shows.
Antarctic Monkeys
Not quite the polar opposite to Arctic Monkeys (see what we did there?), Antarctic Monkeys can schmooze a crowd and shake their hips exactly like Alex Turner. But it’s the energetic indie bangers of the Monkey’s earlier catalogue where this covers band comes into its own. Likely why they’ve played most venues in the UK as well as Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Dubai, Sicily and most recently a country wide tour of Australia. If you’re twiddling your thumbs waiting for Alex Turner to pen some new hits, get out and see these instead.
Fell Out Boy
Tribute acts getting the seal of approval from the original artists must be a real thrill. That’s precisely how Fell Out Boy – the UK’s premier Fall Out Boy tribute band – must’ve felt when the emo favourites posted a video from an early show of their imitators performing ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down’. For those in need of some emo nostalgia, hit these up.
Rob Lamberti
No points for pun-a-rific names here, but you’ll definitely have to double take Rob Lamberti – he genuinely looks like George Michael. You’d forgive him for pursuing a career as a lookalike to book as he’d probably make a mint. But his voice is also something special too. There’s no bringing our beloved George back, but Lamberti embodies the pop icon’s spirit – and sound – better than anyone.
UK Foo Fighters
It’s very unlikely that any of the tribute acts on this list have actually stood next to and performed alongside the bands they’re imitating. That’s not the case with UK Foo Fighters, when singer Jay Apperley was invited by Dave Grohl to sing alongside him during their surprise show at Brighton’s Concorde 2 back in 2014. “Ladies and Gentlemen, would you please welcome…. Me!” he joked.
Being anointed the best tribute band by the original band themselves, and getting to perform alongside your heroes? Surely it’s an accolade that’ll bat away any potential accusations of UK Foo Fighters’ frontman Apperley being dubbed ‘The Pretender’. In fact, people should be calling him ‘My Hero’.
Killer Queen
It’s diminishing returns trying to emulate Freddie Mercury. The man had the most unique voice and stage presence going, likely why Queen’s Live Aid set is often heralded as the greatest rock performance of all time. Still, it’s a challenge that tribute band Killer Queen have accepted – and thrived at.
Singer Patrick Myers can certainly strut his stuff, and really belt out the classic rock band’s operatic bangers. When he dons the iconic yellow military jacket and white tracksuit bottoms, you’d be convinced you were transported back to Wembley Stadium in 1986.
Miss Americana
Of course, you’ll no doubt be hearing about it the next time Taylor Swift announces a tour, given the sheer cultural might of her previous Eras Tour – which reportedly boosted the UK economy by £1 billion. Bonkers figures. But, if you can’t wait that long, then Miss Americana is the tribute act for you. The new show from Xenna as Taylor, it’s a dedicated and delirium-inducing retelling of each of Taylor’s musical chapters, including her most recent album The Life Of A Showgirl.
The Australian Pink Floyd
The likelihood of Pink Floyd’s leading men David Gilmour and Roger Waters ever reuniting on stage after their well publicised and long drawn out spat since the latter departed the band in 1985? Let’s face it, pigs might fly.
Thankfully, we have The Australian Pink Floyd to fill the void, who are far much more than a carbon copy of musical landscape-altering prog rockers. Yes, they sound almost exactly like Pink Floyd on stage. But, much like The Dark Side Of The Moon visionaries, their show ensures seeing them live is as much of a spectacle as the original band would have insisted on – dazzling lightning rigs, visuals that re-imagine Pink Floyd’s iconic iconography with a playful Aussie twist, and even deploying gargantuan inflatables that bounce and bop against the venue’s ceiling.
Having been tripping out audiences since 1988, The Australian Pink Floyd are so legit that they were even hired by David Gilmour himself to perform at his 50th birthday party. More than enough impetus to keep these crazy diamonds shining for so many years.
