MUMBAI: Maybe major international touring acts do not have India in their touring schedule, but tribute acts seem to be giving the music hungry audience a taste of some real acts.

In March, Mumbai got to see all-female American tribute band Lez Zeppelin and now, the city gears up for Eric Clapton's tribute band 'After Midnight' scehduled to preform on 17 July 2009. The concert titled 'Classic Clapton' will be hosted at Bandra's St. Andrews Auditorium 

The band is described as the world's number one Clapton tribute act. Formed way back in 1985 in Newcastle, the band named themselves After Midnight after Eric Clapton's first solo hit. Leading the four-piece band is Mike Hall - the singer and guitarist of the band. Hall is accompanied by Vince Mason on drums, John Forster on bass guitar and Paul Warren on keyboards. The bands ability to recreate Clapton's electrifying stage performances really caught local audience's imagination. Not many know that, In 1999, Hall even won a national look-alike competition held by Madame Tussauds in London.

Mike has met Eric Clapton twice and Eric knows all about the band. Eric even sent Mike a handwritten message of encouragement, which can be seen on their website. In February 2001 the band were honoured to perform at Eric Clapton's Fan Club Convention in London. They are now widely acknowledged as the world's number one Eric Clapton tribute band.

This will be the band's first visit to India. Prior to this, the band has travelled in places like Glastonbury, The Royal Festival Hall, Spain, Estonia and Holland.

Watch After Midnight cover Clapton's 'Layla': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-kj_IAKRP4