Latest news with #tributeact
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tears for Fears singer Curt Smith appears at tribute band's gig
A Tears for Fears tribute act have said they were amazed to see the synth-pop band's co-founder attend one of their to Tears had been performing at The Fleece in Bristol on 8 August when they spotted Tears for Fears singer Curt Smith in the tribute band's lead singer, Andrew Bevington, told BBC Radio Bristol it was "just amazing" and "the best thing in the world".In a post on Facebook, the cover band wrote that the night had been made even more special as it was Smith's last night in the UK, before he returned to the US where he now lives. Mr Bevington said they noticed the bassist and singer in the crowd and admitted that it had been "nerve-wracking" to play in his whether he thought about asking Smith on stage, Mr Bevington said he did not do so out of "etiquette"."We didn't announce he was there, we didn't know he would come, and we assumed he was just having a pint with his family," said Mr Bevington."He's a very private man and an ordinary guy. It didn't feel right [to ask him on stage]. Maybe next time he joins us. That would be amazing", he Bevington said Smith's brothers often attend their gigs and were included on the guest list, but despite that, they all purchased tickets."He was over for a birthday party and for him to come along it was just amazing. I've seen him a number of times but had never met him."Mr Bevington said the iconic 80s singer joined them at the bar for drinks after the gig, where the band thanked him for coming while they chatted and took photos."They say never meet your idols, but it's not true in this case. The man is a legend," Mr Bevington said. Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal founded Tears for Fears in Bath in 1981 and released their first album, The Hurting, in achieved international acclaim with the release of their second album, Songs from the Big Chair, in like Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Shout reached number one in the billboard charts. About 40 years later, the duo are still making and performing music, with their latest studio album, Tipping Point, released in 2022, and performances expected in Las Vegas in the autumn.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oasis tribute act more than DOUBLE their fees since band's reunion
An Oasis tribute act say they have almost quadrupled the price of their gigs since the band announced their reunion. Joe Birchley, who performs as Liam Gallagher in their act Supernova, says that he's been playing four gigs a week since the announcement, compared to their previous three a month. The 42-year-old has gone from charging pubs around £850 per performance to playing in football stadiums and in theatre halls. READ MORE: 5 games released in 2025 guaranteed to take you back to the good old days of gaming READ MORE: 5 retro RPGs you can play right now guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again - you won't have heard of one of them Joe and bandmate, Ben Armstrong, 40, who acts as Noel, now charge up to £3,500. 'The band was already on the up, but when Oasis announced the reunion, there was a massive outcry,' Joe, from Newport, Shropshire, told What's The Jam. 'I always knew a reunion would happen. It was just a matter of when - but it's driven the price up. "Our pricing does fluctuate massively depending on the event and venues. The market was saturated with tributes, but we wanted to be the ultimate. 'We started doing one or two gigs a month at local pubs, and we were charging from £800. Now, we're doing bigger and better venues." The band say they now perform at festivals and football stadiums, charging £2,000 on average but netting as much as £3,500 from a single performance. 'Every gig we do turns into four or five more gigs - and our calendar is so full we're filling up 2026 and 2027," Joe continued. 'It's changed the way our weekends work, so there are pros and cons. 'After the announcement, it was chaos, and we were taking eight bookings a day. We had to start turning bookings down because it's a labour of energy.' The Oasis superfans formed the band in 2020 after being introduced by a mutual friend and had their first gig in October 2021. Joe said: 'We've always been Oasis fans. There's a lot of tribute acts, but we set out to be the ultimate and to get the sound and energy completely right. He ditched his job in recruitment to dedicate his time to playing Liam. He now works part-time as a carpenter to keep him busy on his days off from the band, while band-mate Ben still has a full-time job as an education manager. Joe said: 'I could give up carpentry and do the band full time, but it's something to do in the week while recovering from the weekend's exploits. 'When Oasis announced the reunion, I did have to shelve carpentry for a month. 'Performing is very tiring, and there's a lot of travel. We can do two gigs a day that are a 380-mile round trip. It's intense. Joe is convinced that Supernova will continue even after the Oasis reunion hype has died down, as their fan base is getting younger. He added: 'Guitar music has been put back in the forefront of the media, so hopefully we'll see some more young guitar bands and bring that music back. 'We've noticed the crowds are getting younger - that's a sign it could last.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I spent 12 years performing the ultimate Gary Barlow lookalike tribute act on cruises - people mistake me for him all the time
A Gary Barlow lookalike who has spent more than a decade performing as a cruise tribute act to the star says he is frequently mistaken for the singer in public. Upon first glance, Jon Fisher is almost indistinguishable from the Take That favourite, but it's a look – and voice – that has been carefully honed over 12 years. With sandy blonde hair, a salt and pepper beard and similar facial features, the two performers could be siblings. They are also both 45, married and dads with three kids. The resemblance has served Jon well – landing him the spot as the ultimate Barlow act in the UK and working on Marella Cruises, TUI UK&I's ocean cruise line. His favourite hits to perform include 'Only Takes A Minute Girl' and 'Relight My Fire', as well as crowd-pleasers like 'Back For Good' and 'Greatest Day'. 'I get a lot of double takes and stares on the cruises,' he said. 'People will whisper as I walk by, thinking I'm Gary – especially if I have my sunglasses on or if I'm standing next to other famous people, like Craig Revel Horwood. 'Die-hard fans sometimes get a little bit confused when they meet me and want to take a picture together. 'While I appreciate the attention – because I love Gary too – I always come clean about my real identity. 'But I think it's great that people wonder if I'm really him, because it means I'm doing a good job. It's always a great atmosphere onboard the cruise – everybody gets up singing and dancing. 'The crowds love hearing the classic songs, and it gives them a home from home when they are onboard listening to music they know and love. 'Being able to travel from port to port makes it feel like I'm performing in a new city every night. Not many people can say they have performed to hundreds of people in the middle of the sea. 'The audience is a massive part of the job and what makes it such a joy. There are often fellas in the audience who have been dragged along to these shows by their wives, so I have a bit of fun with that.' Marella Cruises provide all-inclusive cruise holidays with full end-to-end service, including flights, cabins, entertainment, food and drinks, trips, and transfers. It also offers regional flying from over 20 airports and multiple cruise-and-stay options. Jon's full-time career – which involves embarking on 20 cruises a year – started 'by accident' after friends urged him to put his resemblance to the singer to good use. Jon said: 'I'd been singing for a long time and had worked on Marella Cruises doing productions and in different bands. 'The crowds love hearing the classic songs, and it gives them a home from home when they are onboard listening to music they know and love' 'I had a few mates who were doing tribute shows and they convinced me to give it a go. I had my first gig two weeks later – I haven't looked back since.' Jon's work takes him across the globe but the dad has never had the chance to meet Gary himself – yet. But it is likely the Take That star has heard of his most established tribute act, who boasts thousands of fans of his own online. When he's not on the cruise, Jon – who is originally from Reading – lives in south Wales with his wife and kids. He tries to keep his work persona separate from his home life but he sometimes slips into Barlow's Cheshire accent. He added: 'You find some tributes who carry the personality of their act around with them – but that's not me. 'When I'm working, I'm working – but when I'm not, I'm not being Gary. 'I am a fan and respect what he does but I'm not hugely obsessed, so I don't carry him into my personal life. Jon says: 'I am a fan and respect what he does but I'm not hugely obsessed, so I don't carry him into my personal life' 'Sadly, I'm not a millionaire but I think my family are secretly quite proud of me. My wife was a big Take That fan before I started, and my eldest daughter is 18 and she's a big fan of my work, too.' Given he is ageing alongside Barlow, Jon has no plans to quit his act anytime soon. He added: 'I see myself doing this for as long as the work and demand is out there. 'Gary is still well-loved, he's always working on something and I'm lucky to have such a well-thought-of act. 'Plus I love the atmosphere on Marella Cruises and being part of special holiday memories for so many people.' For any budding tribute acts, Jon has also shared his three secrets to making it big – and how you can replicate his success. STUDY THE ARTIST Jon said: 'The key to a successful tribute act is to immerse yourself in the artist's world. 'This means understanding their mannerisms, quirky traits and every little detail that makes them unique. The look and sound are crucial, but they come naturally when you study the character you wish to emulate. 'I watched a lot of footage, especially live footage, to get a feel for Gary's personality and the way he moves. 'I'd listen carefully to the way he pronounced his words and held onto notes in the songs, too.' PERFECT THE LOOK He said: 'While I naturally resemble Gary Barlow, there are various ways to transform yourself into the artist you want to portray. 'Make-up, specially made costumes and other visual aids can help you achieve the desired look. 'The right appearance can significantly enhance your performance and make your act more convincing.' HONE THE VOICE Jon said: 'The voice is the most critical aspect of a tribute act. There's no point in perfecting the look if the voice doesn't match. 'Listening to live recordings of the artist can help you understand their vocal nuances and tricks. 'Vocally, Gary sings down through his nose quite a bit, which is difficult to do if you don't do that normally – but it all comes with practice.
