A FESTIVAL dedicated to top tribute acts, Fake Festival, saw a successful return to live music in Carlisle at the weekend.

Hosted in a huge marquee in Bitts Park on Saturday, the festival saw performances from six of the UK's top tribute acts.

Oasish (Oasis), Fore Fighters (Foo Fighters), Laid (James), New 2 (U2), The Police Force (The Police) and Total Stone Roses (Stone Roses) are described as professional ‘touring-grade’ tribute bands - a consummate recreation of the real thing.

"They look, sound and move like the real rock-stars," festival organisers said. "You have to see them to believe it!"

For many attendees it was a return to live music, with one saying it was the first live event they've attended in two years.

Though the focus of the event was on the music, there was also a licensed bar, food traders and other entertainments. Fake Festivals are aimed at people of all ages and are family friendly.

Jez Lee, organiser of Fake Festivals, said the event went extremely well.

"Everyone was on good form and pleased to be out by the looks of things, and the bands were well received."

He added that the long-running festival series is just getting back on its feet after the Covid-created disruption last year. 

"We've been doing this for 14 years," he said. "We normally do 40 festivals a year. But we did none in 2020, and in 2021 we've only done 12, as we started later in the year.

"So it's great to be back. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. It's like the old days."

Fake Festivals is set to continue its tour of the UK with dates in Tamworth, Peterborough and Worcester.