Tribute festivals in the UK

The UK tribute festival market has been growing steadily over the past few years. As of recent reports, the UK tribute band and tribute festival scene is a substantial part of the live music market.

It’s estimated that the live music industry in the UK contributes over £1 billion annually to the economy, with a significant portion of that coming from tribute events. There’s a growing demand for tribute bands, as they offer a more affordable option for fans who want to experience the music of their favorite artists. At the same time the big festivals are getting too big and too expensive.

As lovers of Classic Rock and Metal, the live experience is essential. However, there are so many of the greats that we love that either are no longer with us or have given up touring. We all play our favourite tracks at home or in the car or tune in to the radio but seeing and hearing supremely skilled musicians playing these classic tracks live brings it all back  home. Even more so when you’re rocking with so many other Classic Rockers wearing the same old festival t-shirt beside you!

Tribute bands and festivals are popular because they offer a nostalgic experience and allow people to relive cherished memories. Tribute bands often perform classic hits that everyone loves.

Glastonbudget is a long-running festival that features tribute acts to big bands like Queen, The Beatles, and AC/DC Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and good food and drink. Tickets start at £62.50 per person.

Rockstock is a festival that features top tribute bands in a family-friendly setting and is held in Stockport.

Tribfest claims to be the world’s biggest tribute band festival and takes place in East Yorkshire. While the acts are mainstream they do feature some rock tributes including Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foos Fighters and Kings of Leon.

MKF is a tribute concert experience in the heart of Milton Keynes with the focus on affordable, family-friendly tribute festival. The focus is mainstream rock legends including GnR, Metallica, Motley Crue, Kiss and Iron Maiden.

Rock the Mote is a weekend camping festival in Kent featuring tributes to Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Slipknot, Alter Bridge, The Darkness and many, many more.

Dubs of Rock is arguably the UK’s Biggest Rock and Metal Tribute Festival, hosted at Cattows Farm, Leicestershire in August. Bands playing there include tributes to AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden, GnR, Megadeth and Motley Crue.

Yarmageddon Legends of Rock boasts many classic tribute acts but also feature original breaking bands playing their own self-penned material. Favorites include Whitesnake, GnR, Thin Lizzy, Led Zep, Rainbow and UFO.

Festwich is one of the UK’s Biggest Tribute Festivals, held at Heaton Park. They host many rock and metal bands including AC/DC and Metallica.

Rockprest offers a tribute concert experience in Preston at Moor Park, with three stages of non-stop rock, over 30 live acts across two days, and a lineup featuring popular tribute bands including

Chard Rock is another rock tribute festival that gives local bands the opportunity to perform and be alongside national tribute bands like Livewire. The lineup includes METALLICA, MOTLEY CRUE, MOTORHEAD and AC/DC tributes.

Ticket prices for these festivals range between £15 – £26 a day with VIP options available. That’s great value.

Tribute bands are leaders in their own field and try to give their fans an experience as close to the original as possible. The incredible musical skills of our bands appeals to many discerning Classic Rock fans. Tribute bands give you the chance to go back to the days of the very best in rock music.

We asked the musicians in the bands that will be playing at our two festivals this year some questions about the events they’re commemorating and being in a tribute band. We got some interesting answers.

Jonathan Crowder Singer for Ey Up Maiden

Did you attend Reading Rock 82?

“I did not. I was born in December 1986 so at the time this festival happened I was no more than a glint in the milkman’s eye. It was an incredible time in Iron Maiden history though. Headlining the Saturday night was about as big a slot as they had ever had at the time.”

What are your thoughts on it?

“It’ll be forever remembered as a turning point for Iron Maiden. It was when they cemented themselves as something bigger and more special than the relatively small New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) scene they’d formerly been a part of. Bruce’s live energy brought the stage show up another level and the band was really finding their place amongst the greatest live acts of all time. The set has songs that would become a staple of the band’s output for decades to come. Run to the Hills. Number of the Beast. Hallowed be thy Name. Huge songs that, years later, would be some of the best known metal songs of all time.”

What inspired you to form your tribute band?

“We’ve always been Iron Maiden fans. We were all writing and playing our own music anyway, but the fact of the matter is we all wanted to be in Iron Maiden. The music is so incredible, the live show is so bombastic and fun that we wanted that chance to do what they do, and live the songs and shows to entertain audiences all over the UK.”

Paul here from The Eliminators.  

WIll you be playing the same set as ZZ Top did at Monsters of Rock 1985?

“We have pulled ZZ Topp sets from the Web and are working our way through.  We intend to play the set as they did in full. “

What inspired you to form your tribute band?

“We have all been fans of ZZ Topp for a long while, and their music has always been stable in our cover band sets.  We realised there was a bit of a gap in the market for a Topp tribute here in the UK.  (There are not many of them) and had the ambition not just to play their music but put together a great show accurately portraying the experience of attending a ZZ Topp concert.”

What really comes across is the appreciation of the great bands and the passion, drive and skill to recreate their best sets and most memorable songs. To be able to do that requires just as much technical skill and artistry as the originals. MOR Revisited Events is proud to bring you tribute days to the original Monsters Of Rock & Reading Rock festivals.