Forget fake news, Perth has Fake Festival!

tributes: Fans can forget about T in the Park with this festival of the country’s leading tribute acts

A fake festival featuring acts like ‘David Bowie’ and the ‘Arctic Monkeys’ could help soften the blow for music fans still mourning the loss of this summer’s T in the Park.

Organisers behind the country’s only touring tribute show have confirmed they will return to Perth this summer, after a hugely successful inaugural visit in 2016.

The South Inch extravaganza will be headlined by tribute acts the Antartic Monkeys, Aladinsane and the Fillers.

The one-day event, on Saturday May 20, will also include five local support bands.

Perth Fake Festival organiser Ian Brittain said: “The first festival in Perth was a great success, breaking records for how quickly it sold out.

“I’m pleased to say we’re coming back with an equally strong line-up for this year.”

He said: “Fake Festivals always have a brilliant atmosphere and it will be no difference for us at Perth again.

“We are also in the process of selecting our five local support acts who will get the great experience of a festival crowd.

“We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in May.”

Preparing for the UK-wide tour, Fake Festival owner Jez Lee said: “We are very proud to be the UK’s only touring tribute festival, supporting some of the UK’s best tribute acts and local homegrown talent.”

The first festival was staged in the Lincolnshire town of Haxey in 2007.

It now tours the UK and more than 30 are being held this summer across the country.

Tickets for the Perth show are available from the festival’s website.

About 2,000 people attended the city’s first Fake Festival with headline acts Oasish, Coldplace and Queen tribute act Flash.

Perthshire music fans were dealt a blow when T in the Park organisers announced they were pulling the plug on the 2017 show.

They said they wanted to get on top of the problems that has plagued the festival since its move to Strathallan Castle two years ago.

The first festival in Perth was a great success, breaking records for how quickly it sold out. IAN BRITTAIN

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Lee Storey, Fake Festival manager, and organiser Ian Brittain at last year’s sold-out festival. Below: Oasish, an Oasis tribute band, was one of the headliners last year.