WE have quite a few tribute' bands at both the Hall at the Swan. I was very sniffy about tribute bands for a long time and wouldn't book them. I used to say loudly to anyone who would listen, the real thing or nothing. There's no artistic merit in just copying someone else'. Then I booked one at the Hall as an experiment, an Eagles tribute called Talon. They sold out, got a standing ovation from the audience, and to be fair, were absolutely brilliant. So what do I know? I have been booking tribute bands ever since, and there is a big demand for them. My personal favourites are probably the Counterfeit Stones who I think are better than the originals ever were, and Nearly Dan - I am a huge Steely Dan fan and they come very close to the real thing!

Sometimes, people think they're getting a tribute band when it is the real thing. We have Gerry and the Pacemakers playing at the Hall in February, and loads of people have assumed it's a tribute. It isn't! It's good old Gerry still going strong after all these years.

**Chris Jaeger is chief executive of Worcester Live