Love Me Pretender

'I put the American accent on but as soon as I come off stage I sound like Peter Kay again!' Welcome to the world of Greater Manchester's top tribute performers...

- By BETH ABBIT

"I HAVE to do the accent on stage otherwise people would be asking for Suspicious Minds and garlic bread," says Bolton's premier Elvis impersonator Tommy Holland.

This weekend, Tommy is playing to thousands of music fans at Festwich the UK's biggest festival for tribute acts.

He says: "It's the best feeling in the world when you're up there.

"All the people singing Suspicious Minds back to you it's amazing. And it's surreal when you see kids pointing and saying 'it's Elvis'.

Festwich attracts fans of all genres of music and yesterday they were rocking out to the thrashing riffs of Knotslip, the thumping bass of Ion Maiden and catchy riffs of Some 41.

Today they'll enjoy the smooth sounds of The Amy Winehouse Experience, the Yourythmics and Echoes of the Bunnymen.

The popularity of Festwich which last year moved from St Mary's Park, in Prestwich, to the much larger Heaton Park proves there is a huge appetite for tribute shows.

Andy Davies, one of the founders of Manchester Punk Festival an event aimed at championing independent, underground music explains the attraction.

"A lot of money has gone into promoting these famous songs and they are familiar to people," says Andy.

"Not everyone can afford to see the real thing in a world of escalating prices and a cost of living crisis. And some of the bands don't even exist any more.

"It gives people the chance to get something near to the original and enjoy much loved songs being played with passion in a live environment."

It's definitely a trend James Copley recognises. He's part of Noasis, a tribute band which already played up to 90 gigs a year.