There are cover bands and tribute acts - and then there are the Bootleg Beatles...

Taking the art of recreating the look and sound of history’s favourite band to another level, the Bootlegs wowed the crowd at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Thursday night. They did not put a foot wrong, and the audience could not get enough of the Fab Four’s famous tunes.

The show charts The Beatles’ progress through the songs of their five films. The story begins with the upbeat, cheery melodies from A Hard Day’s Night, which soon had the audience clapping along. A crowd-pleasing set follows, leading us through three more stages of the band’s career (Help!, Yellow Submarine, Magical Mystery Tour) and ending with the iconic final performance of Let It Be on the roof of the Apple building in London in 1969.

An impressive backdrop of film clips and images from the 1960s adds to the atmosphere, and authentic costumes complete the visual spectacle. The band members work hard to become their character; in the opening numbers, Steve White is a charmingly cheeky head-wiggling Paul McCartney, and Stephen Hill has perfected George Harrison’s beautiful nonchalance. Paul Canning’s (John Lennon) sardonic quips and Gordon Elsmore’s (Ringo Starr) dry enthusiasm complete the picture, and the banter between songs reinforces the illusion of reality. John, Paul and George treating Ringo as a slightly tiresome younger brother, as they patiently explain (again and again) why he cannot sing They’re Gonna Put Me In The Movies... is a running theme, as are the corny jokes and hackneyed (but delightful) puns.

For more than 40 years, The Bootleg Beatles have been paying tribute to Liverpool’s most famous sons, and they have truly nailed a winning formula. Audience participation is encouraged, and the Symphony Hall crowd needed little prompting to clap and sing along. This glorious, magical show ended with a rousing rendition of Hey Jude, which brought fans of all ages to their feet.

From those who actually remember The Beatles, to those who were born long after the band had recorded their last track, nobody can fail to be enchanted by this spectacular reimagining of the most famous group in all of pop history.

Five stars

Reviewed by Rachel Smith at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, on Thursday 5 December