By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Currently, the most successful music genre for live shows is tribute acts. It is a genre that spans genres.
Tribute acts have been around for quite a while. For years, there have been artists who have devoted their lives to recreating music from previous stars – mostly solo singers like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
Now, there is a new wave of acts – acts that are tribute acts devoted to bands and artists. These are music acts ranging from the British Invasion in the late 1960s to current day bands – even ones that are still themselves performing live.
There are many bands that focus on recreating the music of the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Pink Floyd, just to name a few.
By far, bands playing the music of the Grateful Dead are in the majority.
Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) has a number of tribute shows this summer starting in July with Highway Run (Journey, women in rock) on July 11, the X-Band Xperience (yacht rock. R&B, smooth jazz) on July 18, “Glory Days Music Night” on July 24, Riot Act (Pearl Jam) on July 25.
It continues in August – 1, Elvis Jackson (Elvis Costello, Joe Jckson); 8, Rust (Neil Young); 14, Puer Petty; 15, Angry Young Band (Billy Joel); and 22, Winslow (Eagles).
Other July shows are: 16, Trae Sheehan and Tom Hampton; 17, Amy Speace; 30, Jenna Nichols; and 31, Splitting Vision.
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) is presenting two theater productions this month – “Disney’s Moana Jr. Live” on July 9 and 10 and “Legally +Blonde” on July 31 and August 1.
The rest of July and August in all tribute acts – “We May Be Right” (Billy Joel) on July 11, “Know Return” (Journey and Styx) on July 18, Sweet Baby James (James Taylor) on July 24, “80’s Revolution” on August 14, “Back Home Again” (John Denver) on August 6 and “Tell Me Lies” (Fleetwood Mac) on August 21 and 22.
The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, www.ardmoremusic.com) has always been Mecca for fans of tribute bands.
Jesse Lundy, the booking agent and publicist for Point Productions (shows at Ardmore Music Hall and the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville), said “We booked as many tribute bands as we could. They’re doing so well. It’s unbelievable.”
Lundy also plays as a Rolling Stones tribute act with his Jesse Lundy Band.
“As a musician, I’m happy to play tribute stuff like the Stones’ ‘Exile on Main Street’ and the Black Crowes’ ‘Southern Harmony’ show.”
Ardmore Music Hall has slew of tribute act concerts this summer – “Echoes: The American Pink Floyd Tribute” on July 10, “Grunge-a-palooza: Tributes to Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, & Nirvana” on July 11, New Potato Caboose (Grateful Dead) with Coca Leaves & Pearls (Neil Young) on July 24, “Alice Unchained: 30th Anniversary Celebration of Alice In Chains – Unplugged” on July 30, Splintered Sunlight: Grateful Dead Tribute
on July 31, Steal Your Peach (Allman Bros.) on August 9, “Steely Dead: A Sonic Fusion of The Grateful Dead and Steely Dan” on August 9, “Classic Albums Live! ft. Rolling Stones, Black Crowes, & Aerosmith Tributes” on August 21, “Damn the Torpedoes: A Tribute To Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers” on September 4 and “Philly Tribute to the Clash – London Calling” with Citizen Riot, The No Good Crowd, The Big Trip, 2 Tones Clash on September 6.
The Main Line is a hotbed for music from the past with another venue just a few miles from Ardmore in Wayne – 118 North.
Without a doubt, no band has inspired more tribute acts than the Grateful Dead.
118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com) will be a major destination for Deadheads this summer.
The July schedule features Nick Lombardo & the Decent Ok on July 10, Melt With You (80’s New Wave and Alternative Tribute) on July 11, QDK (Quentin Jones, David Uosikkinen, and Kenny Aaronson) on July 12, The Tull Project: Jethro Tull Tribute on July 12, Dan Montgomery on July 15, Lovelight: Grateful Dead Tribute Band on July 16 and Gráinne Duffy on July 17.
The month continues with Twin Fin The Kings of the Coast Tour with Reggaelar People on July 18, Valley Flower on July 19, Crickets & Cicadas: Grateful Dead Tribute Band on July 23, Hannah Cohen on July 25, Brown Sugar: Rolling Stones Tribute on July 25, One Star Places on July 26, Holy Roller on July 29, Rk$tdy + Parlour Noir on July 30 and Almost There (Alt Rock Covers) on July 31.
The 118 North schedule is overloaded with tribute acts — Philly Joel: The Billy Joel Tribute on August 2, Take Me Home: Tribute to Phil Collins on August 6, Karl’s Garcia Band: JGB Tribute on August 7, GUERRILLA RADIO: Rage Against the Machine Tribute with Science Fiction (Incubus Tribute) on August 8, Space Antelope: A Tribute to Phish on August 13, Supernova: A Tribute to Oasis on August 14, Cats on the Bus: Grateful Dead Tribute on August 20, Mysterious Ways: U2 tribute on August 22 and ZenDog Grateful Dead Tribute on August 27.
The Soundbank (119 South Main Street, Phoenixville, www.soundbankphx.com) is serving up a tribute act on July 10 with “Rift – A Tribute to Phish.”
The venue will also host JD Malone & The Experts with the Dallas Malone Band on July 18.
The Shady Grove Music Fest will be held on July 11 near Arden Gild Hall, 2126 The Highway, Arden, Delaware, ardenconcerts.com).
The festival, which gets underway at noon, features Heavy Temple, Planette Automatic, Monopod, Haha Charade, Strays&Misfits, La Casa De, Nick Lurwick, Team Lift and Shoeless.
At the Elkton Music Hall (107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com), 12 of the 26 concerts between now and the end of August are shows by tribute acts.
The shows in July are – 10, York Street Hustle (Amy Winehouse); 17, Countdown to Ecstasy (Steely Dan), 23, Burning Sky (Bad Company); 24, Obey Your Master (Metallica); and 31, Dirty Blonde (Blondie) and Full Steam Ahead (classic rock).
August’s concerts will be – 7, Rift (Phish) and “Shine On: Pink Floyd Tribute”; 8, Manticore (ELP); 15, Zoso (Led Zeppelin), 21, Eyes Of The Nile (Iron Maiden); 22, Arena Rock (Loverboy, REO, Night Ranger, Billy Squier); and TRO (Jimmy Buffet).
Upcoming concerts featuring current acts are Parker Barrow on July 11, Oppa Chubby on July 18, Northern Mississippi All Stars on July 22, Zach Person on July 25 and Thurston Howell on July 30.
The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) is heavy on the tribute band side in July – 11, AM Radio; 12, Doug Church (Elvis); 12, Southern Accents (Tom Petty); 13, “Hejira – Celebrating the music of Joni Mitchell”; 14, Rose and Vet (Sly Stone); 18, Classic Stones Live; 24, Zmed Brothers (Everly Brothers; 29, Hardwired (Metallica); and 30, Double Vision (Foreigner).
August’s schedule is almost as heavy – 8, Texas Flood (Stevie Ray Vaughan); 9, “1964, The Tribute” (Beatles);11, Ted vigil (John Denver); 14, “Back to the Garden” (Woodstock); 21, Top of the Word (Carpenters); and 22, Jason Perry (Hank Williams).
Sellersville’s July schedule also includes several highlights – prog pioneers Crack the Sky on July 17, Billy Bob Thornton on July 21 and 22, New York rock legend Willie Nile on July 23, and blues ace Popa Chubby on July 31.
Also featured are Tab Benoit on July 10, Lindsay Webster on July 15, John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band on July 16, Craig Shoemaker on July 25, Quinn Sullivan on July 26 and David Cook on July 28.
Phantom Power (121 West Frederick Street, Millersville, www.phantompower.net) will have Stenial on July 11, the Ex-Faces on July 17, Tantric on July 18, Stabbing Westward on July 21 and New Damage on July 24.
The venue’s upcoming tribute act shows are “Bark At The Moon – Ozzy Osbourne Tribute” on July 25, “Houses Of The Holy – The True Zeppelin Experience” on August 1 and “A Farewell To Kings – Rush Tribute” on September 11.
Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) continues its tradition of presenting top quality blues music this weekend.
Jamey’s House of Music is a prime destination to hear folk, jazz and blues music every Thursday through Sunday.
The “Thursday Night Jazz Jam” and the “Sunday Blues Brunch & Jam” are regular features on Jamey’s calendar while Friday and Saturday night shows feature national and regional acts.
On July 10, Jamey’s will host the 4AM Band while the headliner for July 11 will be James “JB” Barnes.
The show on Sunday will feature the Girke-Davis Project.
The Eagleview Town Center (Wharton Boulevard, Exton, www.ineagleview.com) will present its Summer Concert Series every Tuesday now through August.
On July 14, Eagleview will host Polyrhythmics featuring Adryon de León with special guest Julia Miralles followed by Polyrhythmics on July 21 and The Legwarmers on July 28.
The 2026 Concerts Under the Stars series at the scenic Upper Merion Township Building Park (175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, www.concertsunderthestarskop.com) presents “A Celebration of John Coltrane & Miles Davis ft. Nasir Dickerson & The Life Light Empower Band” on July 11,
Magic City Hippies on July 15, The High Kings on July 18, Preservation Hall Jazz Band on July 23 and the Disco Biscuits on July 25 and 26.
Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts (9 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com) will present Tom Rush on July 11, Shovels & Rope on July 12, Philadelphia Folk Fest Preview on July 17, Trout Fishing America on July 19, John Gorka on July 24 and Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams with MUTLU on July 31.
On July 11, Brooklyn Bowl (1009 Canal Street, Philadelphia, www.brooklynbowl.com/philadelphia) will have Land of Ozz, a band playing the music of Ozzy Osbourne.
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com) hosts Finn Wolfhard on July 18, RX Bandits on July 19, Wunderhorse on July 24 and Tomahawk on July 27.
Zoetropolis Zoetropolis (112 North Water Street, Lancaster, www.zoetropolis.com) has several shows on its July calendar – lowercase roses and Tyler Burkhart on July 9, Dreamroute on July 11, Boneology on July 24 and the Cosmic Honky Tonk on July 30.
Sunset Jazz Series at Wiggins Park (located at the Camden City waterfront, www.camdencounty.com) will host Kid ‘N Play on July 13 and Boney James on July 19.
Sundown Music Series at Haddon Lake Park presents Work Drugs on July 8, Augustana on July 15 and Sixpence None The Richer on July 29.
The schedule for the Twilight Concert Series at Cooper River Park (Pennsauken) is Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band on July 16 and Paradise Island Luau on August 13.
