IF you closed your eyes you would have thought that Mick Jagger himself was on stage strutting his stuff.

The world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band were part of a mega tribute to a galaxy of chartbusting superstars.

And it was as near as you could get to the real thing.

Eastleigh’s Concorde Club was the bank holiday stage for Phoneyfest – the largest tribute festival in the south – saluting giants of the popular music world.

The three-day open air and indoor feast of live music is more popular than ever.

Jamie Mathieson, of the Concorde, said: “We started three years ago and attendances have grown 20 per cent year on year.

“Over the last three years we have seen the greatest tribute bands in the UK take centre stage. And this year we have had 25 different tribute acts on two stages.”

Music fans came from far flung corners of the country. A salute to soul singer Amy Winehouse by Laura Jane Butler was the Phoneyfest curtain raiser.

The real invasion of music lovers came on Saturday afternoon as the summer made a welcome comeback. It turned into a pop and Pimms party in the idyllic grounds of the Stoneham Lane club.

Music lovers hit the marquee dance floor as Like A Rolling Stone – the Stones’ tribute band – paid homage to those rock gods.

Sponsored by Snows Group, the Phoneyfest tribute line-up included the music of Showaddywaddy, Elvis Presley, Madness, George Michael, Stereophonics, The Eagles, Oasis, Pink, Bryan Adams and Cher.

And Garry Pease showcased the hits of spiky haired rocker Rod Stewart.

The real Rod, who has just scored his first number one album in 34 years, was one of many stars whose career took off from The Concorde many turntable spins ago.