Tribute bands have become a fixture in the Dutch live music scene. Acts like Fleetwood Back, Earth Wind For Hire and Amy Housewine are drawing large crowds. The SBS TV show *The Tribute: Battle of the Bands* is adding even more fuel to the fire.
Quality is what counts
Peter Sanders, director of Paaspop and Tribute-land, books tribute bands regularly. His standard is simple: it has to sound right. "If the musicians don't really look like the originals but are still incredibly tight, that matters more to me."
Sanders says quality has improved significantly in recent years. "There seems to be a whole new mainstream audience that's woken up to tribute acts — and they're buying tickets to the Ziggo Dome to see them."
High notes take hard work
Mike Ott, frontman of Bee Gees Forever, is a prime example. He grew up listening to the Bee Gees and spent years training to match Barry Gibb's falsetto. "I'd have conversations with myself and answer back in a high voice. It took real dedication."
Since appearing on *The Tribute: Battle of the Bands*, the band picked up a hundred extra shows — all while Ott still works as a plasterer in his day job. "There aren't many days left in the week," he laughs.
What this means for event organisers
Tribute acts meet a clear demand. They deliver nostalgia, proven crowd appeal and reliable performance quality. For festivals, theatres and live events, they're a smart booking with low risk and high impact.
Want to bring the Bee Gees to your event? Tributeworld books The Bootleg Bee Gees — A Tribute to the Bee Gees — the professional Bee Gees tribute act for festivals, theatres and events across the Netherlands and Belgium.