Tribute bands have always had a place in the UK music scene. For ages they were mostly a way to keep the spirit of artists alive when they were no longer touring or had faded from the spotlight. Now though there is a growing wave of tribute acts for bands who are very much active. You can find entire nights dedicated to Green Day, Linkin Park, Paramore, Sleep Token and plenty of others who are still releasing music and headlining festivals. It made me wonder why these nights are becoming so popular when the original bands are still out there filling arenas.

To get a feel for it we headed to the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth for an evening with The Black Charade and Fell Out Boy. It was a full on tribute night for My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy. The venue was packed with fans wearing MCR and FOB merch and the night was sold out. It turns out that this is the case for most of their tour dates and both bands seem to perform almost year round.

Once we started chatting to fans the picture became clearer. A lot of people said they come to tribute nights because they can enjoy the music they love without any pressure. One fan put it simply – seeing the real band usually involves planning everything from trains to hotels and often time off work. Tribute bands tend to play nearby at least once a year so it feels more like a fun spontaneous night out. You can sing every word with your mates and get swept up in the atmosphere without worrying about missing the last train home.

Another attendee talked about money. A front row ticket for next years My Chemical Romance Long Live the Black Parade tour comes in at about £250. The show in Portsmouth was a tenth of the cost. She pointed out that once she adds travel and accommodation a single MCR gig can easily hit £500+. In comparison she was able to turn up tonight without blowing her budget and still enjoy all the songs she loves.

Something else that came up again and again was how good the tribute bands actually are. Fans said the energy on stage feels just as electric as the real thing. At the Portsmouth show The Black Charade frontman climbed into the crowd and hugged fans while belting out I Dont Love You. Fell Out Boy sprinted across the stage and encouraged everyone to jump just like Pete and Patrick do on their own tours. It is clear the tribute acts take their craft seriously and people appreciate it.

So it seems the rise of tribute bands is not about replacing the original artists. It is more about giving fans another way to enjoy the music they care about. It is live music without the hassle and in a more accessible way. It is a night out that feels close to home. Judging by the number of sold out rooms across the country it looks like these nights are only going to get bigger and better!

Photos and review by Lorna Leahy