IT might only have been musical make-believe, but it certainly came close to the real thing.

PhoneyFest is simply the best and biggest copycat music show on the south coast.

In its sixth year, it has become a must be event for hundreds of music fans who gathered at Eastleigh’s Concorde over the Bank Holiday weekend for this star-studded tribute marathon.

They paid homage to the biggest names in pop history including David Bowie and The Eagles, whose co-founder Glenn Frey died within days of Bowie at the beginning of the year.

More than 50 tribute acts strutted their stuff on three stages over four days with the Stoneham Lane club’s hotel fully booked.

The Concorde’s Jamie Mathieson, the driving force behind PhoneyFest, said that since the festival was launched the number of acts had nearly trebled.

He said: “Many of the tribute performers bring their own group of supporters and they come from miles around. It has been a huge success.”

ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes winner Terry Nash wowed the audience with his renditions of Meat Loaf classics and created his own air band with members of the audience joining him with their inflatable guitars and imaginary drums and keyboards.

Award-winning Tom Canning brought the Green, Green Grass of Home to Eastleigh with his world number one Tom Jones' tribute which he has taken around the world.

Other recording stars saluted in the glittering line up included The Beatles, soul legend Amy Winehouse, Blondie, Jessie J, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Kings of Leon and Michael Jackson.

Words by Duncan Eaton

Pictures by Chris Moorhouse