Get ready to dance along to Elton John, The Killers, and Dolly Parton - Teesside’s longest running tribute festival is back with a bang. 

Counterfest will return to Stockton across six town centre stages on Saturday, October 26, in what will be its 12th annual outing. 

The event will see 18 of the UK’s best tribute acts take to stages in The Arc, The Georgian Theatre, KU Bar, The Social Room, The Storytellers, and The Green Room across one night. 

Organised and managed jointly by Tees Music Alliance and KU Promotions since 2012, the event will this year feature another impressive range of acts, including tributes to AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac, the Spice Girls, the Arctic Monkeys, and Coldplay. 

Counterfest 2024Counterfest 2024 (Image: KU PROMOTIONS)

Tickets are now on sale for the 18+ event, which will get you into every venue across the festival and are priced at £22. 

Wristbands can be collected from 4pm at ARC, and 6pm at The Georgian Theatre and KU, with admission to each venue being on a first come, first served basis. 

Counterfest 2024Counterfest 2024 (Image: KU PROMOTIONS)

Once the venue capacity has been reached, a one in, one out admission policy will be adopted by organisers. 

Event co-booker Jimmy Beck from KU Promotions said: “It’s amazing to think that Counterfest is still going strong after running for over a decade, and we’re all grateful to the loyal audience that turns up year after year.


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“It’s an entertaining night and people take it in the spirit that it’s intended – and where else could you see Dolly Parton on the same bill as The Clash?”

Explaining how the event works, Chris Cobain, co-booker from Tees Music Alliance said: “Once you’ve bought your ticket, you just pop along to one of the wristband exchange points – where you’ll be given a wristband for the evening.

“Everyone’s wristband gets them into any of the venues throughout the night – but we always advise that if you wan to see a particular act, then get there early to avoid the venue getting full up.”