By Duncan Eaton

TRIBUTE acts are a booming industry and Eastleigh’s Concorde Club is at the forefront.

Hundreds of music fans will be converging on the Stoneham Lane club to salute pop A listers in what has become simply the best and biggest copycat music show on the south coast.

Over the May Bank Holiday weekend The Concorde will once again be the setting for for the award winning PhoneyFEST as the United Kingdom’s finest tribute acts salute a galaxy of multi-million selling recording stars.

The Bank Holiday music feast will run over three days between May 3 and May 5 on three stages both in and outside the club.

The Concorde’s Jamie Mathieson who has been the driving force behind the popular event, says:” It doesn’t seem like 12 months ago but PhoneyFEST is back with a bang with nearly 50 tribute acts over May Bank Holiday weekend.

“ From Genesis to Luther Vandross, Lady Gaga to Take That and Whitney to Queen, PhoneyFEST has it all.

“This will be the eighth year of PhoneyFEST. Over the last seven years we have seen the greatest tribute bands in the United Kingdom take centre stage.”

The popular event won national recognition after scooping the Venue of the Year title in the National Tribute Music Awards.

Run on Oscar awards style lines it reflected the enormous contribution that tribute acts made to the entertainment industry in both economic and artistic value.

The Stoneham Lane club has now become the leaders in this competitive field at a time when the tribute act scene in Britain is booming.

It has steadily grown into a multi-million pound industry. As mega gigs by stadium stars become more costly and remote tribute acts offer intimacy, accessibility and more fun for a fraction of the price.

George Michael fans will have the chance to

The seeds for the tribute act boom were sown in 1980 when The Bootleg Beatles were created out of the West End hit musical Beatlemania.

Friday's tribute line up is Whitney Houston, Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Eric Clapton and The Beatles.

Saturday: Genesis, Lady Ga Ga, Luther Vandross, Richard Ashcroft/The Verve, Rockaoke,Stereophonics, Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Ed Sheeran, Abba, Take That, Ronan Keating, Shania Twain, Boy George, Madonna, Black Eyed Peas, Princes of Motown and Queen.

Sunday tribute line up: Meghan Trainor, Ariana Grande, Michael Jackson, Rockaoke, Tinie Tempah, The Greatest Showman, Taylor Swift, P!nk, UB40, Dolly Parton, Ultra 90s, Adele, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Dusty Springfield, Christina Aguilera, That That, Spice Girls, Jersey Boys, and Michael Jackson.

Starry eyed tribute fans will also have a chance to camp under the stars in glamping tents.

For more details and to book for PhoneyFEST visit www.phoneyfest.co.uk or ring 02380613989.