U2.V2

U2.V2 play The Hive on Saturday 5 December. They're a UK-based U2 tribute act, and they describe themselves as a tribute rather than a covers band, claiming to faithfully channel five decades of the original band's work. The set runs across 24 songs, taking in the scale, swagger and material of U2's career, from the fire of War to the neon overload of Zoo TV and beyond.

That range is the point of the night. Rather than sticking to a handful of the biggest hits, they pull from across the band's long run, so you'll hear the early, raw energy of the War era alongside the more expansive, theatrical sound of Zoo TV. With 24 songs in the set, it's a long run through the catalogue, and the order takes you through different eras of the band's career rather than just a few well-known records. If you've followed them from the early days, you'll recognise the shift from the stripped-back post-punk of the first few albums to the stadium sound they became known for.

As a tribute act, they're not playing their own material; the whole evening is built around U2's songs, and the set is designed to recreate the feel of a Bono-fronted stadium show. The 24-song list is a good chunk of a night's music, and it covers a lot of ground, from the early records to the later, more polished stuff. It's a long set, so it's a good one to settle into if you're a fan of the band's whole run rather than just a few favourite tracks.

Doors open at 7pm at The Hive, and there's one detail to keep in mind before you book: the show is strictly for over-18s.