Concert tickets are getting more expensive. Small clubs are looking for ways to attract new visitors. Tribute bands offer the solution: well-known music, low threshold, affordable price.
That's also the experience of Andy Tennille, co-owner of The Ramkat in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His club normally has an 18+ age limit, but children are welcome if accompanied by a parent.
"It's not a gamble," says Tennille. "They already know the music. That makes it accessible for the whole family."
A good example: the Tom Petty tribute band Somewhat Petty drew a ten-year-old boy into the club. He had never heard of Petty but clearly enjoyed himself. His father brought him. That's exactly what it's all about.
The Ramkat goes beyond just tribute shows. Every Saturday afternoon, there's a Kids Dance Party. Children pay five dollars, parents get in free. The first 150 kids receive a bead necklace. Juices cost a dollar.
Tennille is clear: it's not a core business, but a conscious choice. "Rock 'n' roll is a sport for young people. More venues should be doing this."
For programmers and event organisers, the message is clear: tribute bands are not just a calendar filler. They are an instrument to connect new generations to live music — and to offer parents and children an evening together that they won't forget.
Want to experience Fleetwood Mac live at your event? Tributeworld books The Fleetwood Mac Affair — the professional Fleetwood Mac tribute act for festivals, theatres, and events in the Netherlands and Belgium.