Tribute bands are carving space in Egypt’s music scene. Tribute bands are filling the gap left by the lack of touring international artists. They come together to perform live on stage for fans who share the love and passion for the same music.
What are Tribute Bands?
How many times have you dreamed of seeing your favourite international artist perform live, only to find out they won’t perform in Egypt? Tribute bands carving space in Egypt’s music scene. They bring the concert experience to us. They are musical groups that perform the music of well-known bands or artists as a tribute to them. Moreover, they are usually created for bands and artists that have disbanded or no longer play live. Keeping their legacy alive, they aim to recreate the original sound of the bands. Sometimes they add their unique sound to the performance, providing a memorable experience.
The Rise Of Tribute Bands
There has been a significant rise in tribute bands’ popularity, driven by the desire for nostalgia, giving a chance for fans to reconnect with music they love.
“Also, nostalgia plays a big role. When people hear songs they grew up with or connect to deeply performed live with real energy, it creates a special atmosphere and that’s what keeps audiences coming back,” Broken Mold said.
Also, Affordability plays a role in this, as attending a local tribute band of your favourite artists is often easier and cheaper than securing a ticket to see the original band. Especially if they’re famous. Finally, it is a great opportunity to foster a local community of fans who share the love and passion for the same music.
“The base point of starting a tribute band is the mutual love that both have (audiences and the tribute band members) to the main band,” Paranoid Eyes said.
The rise of tribute bands in Egypt is closely linked to fans’ desire to connect with their fandom and celebrate their favorite artist or band within a local setting. As they fill the gap left by the lack of touring artists. The tribute bands’ composition of passionate independent artists coming together to pay tribute to artists who affected their lives personally in some way or form.
“As a Pink Floyd tribute band, I love Gilmour’s tone and Waters’ lyrical philosophy,” said Wissam Sultan, manager and lead guitarist for Paranoid Eyes.
“And I LOVE Billie Eilish and felt that her singing and writing style was very close to mine. So doing a tribute especially for her felt like a safe and meaningful way to express myself,” said Jumana, manager and lead singer for Broken Mold.
Many people want to attend international artists’ concerts, but can’t as they are not widely available in Egypt, and are highly expensive. This helped the popularity of tribute bands in Egypt. Artists began forming tribute bands to pursue their love for music. They created spaces for fans and the performers themselves to come together and relive the excitement of iconic songs and legendary performances.
“It is a shared experience of both the band and the audience admiring the work of a celebrated artist,” said Hany Mustafa, vocalist and guitarist of Glass Onion.
Tribute bands are famous for paying tribute to rock and pop bands, like Andromida, one of the oldest Pink Floyd tribute bands in Egypt, and Onion Glass, a prominent Beatles tribute band in Egypt. In recent years, creating tribute bands for contemporary artists has become popular. Bands like Brooklyn Babies, a tribute to Lana Del Rey, Broken Mold, a tribute to Billie Eilish, and Antiheroes, a former tribute band to Taylor Swift.
Emerging Trend
Gradually, this trend had been expanding quietly since the late 2010s, with the emergence of multiple musicians playing tribute acts, dedicated recreations of bands like The Doors, Metallica, and Pink Floyd. Around 2014 and 2015, multiple musicians were creating tribute bands like Strawberry Swing, a tribute to Coldplay, and Blitz, a tribute to Red Hot Chili Peppers.
This trend gained more traffic around 2018. Along with the rise in visibility for local artists and performers, themed concert nights, and niche music festivals. Spaces, like El Saway Cultural Wheel, Room Art Space, Darab 1718, Cairo Jazz Club, and The Tap, provided a venue for local performances. In addition, these venues became known for their visibility and support of local artists, becoming anchors for the tribute band scene. These venues attract people of all ages through their diverse events. Several tribute bands have become regular performers there, helping them gain a broader and more diverse audience.
Why are Tribute Bands Thriving in Egypt?
In the absence of frequent international acts touring the region, Egyptian tribute bands are thriving more than ever, providing well-curated performances of iconic music acts. Becoming a major staple in the Egyptian music scene across Cairo and Alexandria.
“In Egypt, there’s a huge love for music, but not always enough access to the original artists or regular high-quality live performances,” Broken Mold said.
Moreover, social media’s exposure to music across generations has created a blend of music tastes, with both millennials and Gen Z showing appreciation for a wide range of bands.
“Because it’s much easier when there is a catalogue of music that people easily relate to. If you’re doing a good job, people will really congratulate that,” Glass Onion said. “specially when it’s The Beatles because they’re universally loved. You can find people who range from 12 to 80 years old watching us,” they add
With the major digital push, tribute bands are highly active on several social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Posting their newest updates, band practice reels, upcoming concerts, and snippets of their performances. Additionally, the venues they perform at have a wide-ranging social media presence that draws more attention to tribute bands. YouTube plays a major role in showcasing the bands’ musical presence and journey. They upload videos of their first gigs to their latest performances. Highlighting their vocal and instrumental talents and distinctive style.
“It’s not just about singing, it’s the full experience. From the outfits we wear to the way we connect with the audience on stage,” Broken Mold said.
What is It Like Being a Tribute Band?
Being a tribute band in Egypt comes with its ups and downs. “Being a tribute band in Egypt is just like everywhere else; it has advantages and disadvantages,” said Paranoid Eyes. Especially, it takes passion, precision, and persistence in the face of all odds. The tribute bands embody this through their love for music and drive to create their heartfelt and unique identity. Also, working hard on building their brand, following, and vibrant community through social media, entirely on their own in pursuit of their dreams. Together, they create a one-of-a-kind experience and performance through all the hard work they put into their practices. This blends an authentic tribute to the original artist and their creative touch to create a deep connection with their audience.
“You meet up with people who understand, know, appreciate, and cherish what you’re doing,” added Sultan Wissam.
Challenges & Realities: What Tribute Bands Are Up Against
Tribute bands face a range of challenges. This includes personal challenges that each musician navigates. Like commitment to rehearsals, managing time effectively, and working through creative differences to stay connected as a group. Secondly, many of the tribute band members have day jobs or attend universities while pursuing their music careers. Additionally, they are trying to build a name for themselves in the music scene. Moreover, there can be limited recognition and audience for tribute bands, as some people dismiss them as “just cover bands” or judge them harshly. As they overlook the bands’ dedication to honour the original songs without simply mimicking them, without spirit. This narrow view fails to recognize the bands’ full talent and creative potential.
“As well as nailing the sound of the artist we’re portraying without compromising the quality, while maybe inserting a little of our own DNA into it, to make it honest,” Hany Mustafa said.
The Future: What Tribute Bands Hope For
Looking down the road, many tribute bands wish to broaden their musical horizons in the future. They hope to create their own original songs to share with their loyal fans who have come to cherish their voices and stage presence dearly, and build a deeper connection with them. For example, Strawberry Swing, who started releasing their original songs. Each member of these bands has gained more recognition for their individual talent. Gradually becoming known in the music scene and often pursuing a separate music career, building a brand for themselves.