METICULOUS attention to detail has made Mercury one of the best Queen tribute bands around.In just four years, they have built up such a following that they have already played to capacity crowds worldwide – pretending to be their heroes.

By Richard Cornwell

METICULOUS attention to detail has made Mercury one of the best Queen tribute bands around.

In just four years, they have built up such a following that they have already played to capacity crowds worldwide – pretending to be their heroes.

On Sunday they will visit Felixstowe and Queen fans will be able to judge for themselves how close they are to the real thing.

Being a tribute band is an art form in itself. Those involved study not only the music and singing voices of those they are imitating, but also their performance to try to capture the stage presence of the group.

Queen were famous for excellent musicianship and stunning harmonies.

Mercury's members spend hours practising playing, copying voices and the stage movements of Queen in order to present a top-quality show.

Songs featured in the show include One Vision, A Kind Of Magic, Rhapsody, Pressure, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Are The Champions, Radio Ga-Ga, Seven Seas of Rye, and We Will Rock You.

The show will be at the Spa pavilion at 7.30pm, and tickets are £10 (concessions available) from the box office on 01394 282126.

n There will be entertainment of a different kind on Saturday at the Spa when the Minden Band of the Queen's Division will be the stars.

The infantry county regimental band will be performing a concert to raise cash for the Suffolk branch of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.

The Minden Band is more than a marching band, and its musicians have a wealth of experience in many different styles, playing in many different ensembles – traditional marching and concert bands, brass and woodwind groups, jazz and dance bands, and fanfare trumpeters.

The band has performed all over the country and enjoyed tours to France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Germany.

Tickets for the show, which takes place at 7.30pm, are £10 (concessions £8), available on 01394 282126.

Dance Passion is a spectacular new show coming to the Spa on October 1, 2002 at 7.30pm.

Dance Passion is a spectacular dance production featuring all different genres of dance from the Swing Jive of the Glen Miller era to the Latin American styles of sensual Tango and provocative Flamenco.

One of the highlights of the show is the sensational Russian Ukraine Experience who perform their own interpretation of the traditional Cossack dancing. Dance Passion is destined to do to Ukraine Dancing what Riverdance did to Irish dance!

The show features fabulous costumes, brilliant choreography and an outstanding soundtrack which will all add up to an exhilarating evening of entertainment, leaving you breathless and then shouting for more.

The Evening Star has a pair of tickets to be won to see Dance Passion. To enter, answer the following question and send your entry to Dance Passion Competition, Spa Pavilion, Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe, IP11 2DX by September 25.

Who starred in the original Riverdance production?

Was it Michael Crawford, Michael Flatley of Michael Jackson?

Tickets for Dance Passion are £16.50 or £12.50. Concessions available. Call the Box Office on 01394 282126 to book tickets or you can book through the Ticketmaster 24 hour Hotline 0870 607 7580 or at www.ticketmaster.co.uk