Who we are
Magic Queen is a Queen tribute band from London, formed in 2017. We recreate the concerts that made Queen one of the great live bands, from the glam of the 1970s to the stadium shows of the 1980s, for theatre audiences, festival crowds and private events across the UK and Europe.
We focus on two things: sounding like Queen and giving the audience a real Queen night out. That means Queen’s layered vocal harmonies and studio detail, delivered with the energy of a live rock show. It also means the costumes, the call-and-response and the moments everyone waits for, from the “Radio Ga Ga” handclaps to the final chorus of “We Are the Champions”.
We are a separate act from other Queen tributes with “Magic” in their names.
The band
Magic Queen is a four-piece:
- Connor McGovern as Freddie Mercury: vocals
- Rafa Diaz as Brian May: guitar
- Eugi Bartolo as Roger Taylor: drums
- James Harrison as John Deacon: bass
What’s live
Vocals (lead and backing), guitar, bass and drums are played and sung live at every show. We don’t have a keyboard player, so the keyboard and synth parts, and some effects, come from backing tracks that run alongside the band.
The show
Two formats. A one-hour show of Queen’s greatest hits, made for dancing from the first song. This is the format we usually play at festivals. For theatres, the full show is two 45-minute sets with an interval, with staging, instruments, backdrops and costumes that recreate moments from Queen’s legendary concerts, from the Rainbow to Wembley.
Setlist highlights. Every show is different, but you can expect the piano-driven hits (“Killer Queen”, “Somebody to Love”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “You’re My Best Friend”, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We Are the Champions”) and the guitar anthems (“Tie Your Mother Down”, “Hammer to Fall”, “One Vision”, “I Want It All”, “We Will Rock You”). The Banbury Guardian’s June 2026 review also lists “Seven Seas of Rhye”, “Another One Bites the Dust”, “I Want to Break Free”, “Now I’m Here”, “Fat Bottomed Girls”, Freddie Mercury’s solo hit “Living on My Own”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Radio Ga Ga”. Our live videos add “A Kind of Magic” and “Under Pressure”.
Staging and costumes. Costumes change with the songs and the eras, from the 1970s outfits to the 1980s stadium look and the crown and cape for the finale. A video screen supports the big moments, including “Bohemian Rhapsody”. The “I Want to Break Free” routine takes Freddie out into the audience.
Production. We work with a production company that brings the PA, lighting, a sound engineer and the video screen. We also have a technical rider; ask for it when you enquire.
Watch clips of the show: Magic Queen live videos.
History and notable performances
Magic Queen has played theatres, festivals and corporate events across the UK and Europe since 2017. Highlights include:
- Commonwealth Games 2022, Tamworth: on Wednesday 20 July 2022 we played a Commonwealth Games 2022 festival event in Tamworth. The organiser wrote: “We couldn’t have wished for a better opening act to the festival!”
- Glasgow Royal Concert Hall: 1 October 2023, and again on 18 May 2025.
- Haddington Corn Exchange, October 2023: the first band to play the refurbished venue in several years, at the opening concert of the Brunton Theatre Trust’s new home (East Lothian Courier).
- Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells: April 2023.
- Playhouse Theatre, Nottingham: June 2023.
- Festivals including Rock The Mote (Maidstone, 2023), Together Festival (Maidstone, 2022), Oktoberfest Kent (2022), Oktoberfest Dundee (2019), Rockore Festival (Edinburgh, 2018), Astonbury Festival (2026) and the Sausage and Cider Festival (Aberdeen, 2026).
- Europe: Tenerife (Infanta Leonor Auditorium, Arona, December 2023, as part of TributoFest), Ljubljana and Sofia (March 2026).
- Sold-out shows: The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury (June 2026, “the sold-out tribute show”, Banbury Guardian), and the Regal, Tenbury Wells, which is bringing us back “after a sellout 2026 show”.
- The West End: on Monday 30 November 2026 we make our West End debut at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, Drury Lane, London, with the Magic Tour 40th Anniversary Tour. Queen’s Magic Tour of 1986 included two famous nights at Wembley Stadium.
See photos from these shows in our gallery of Magic Queen performances and the full list of dates on our Queen tribute tour dates page.
What the press and audiences say
“The best entertaining tribute act I’ve seen in decades here at The Mill in Banbury. That’s a big statement, but absolutely justified; ask anyone who was there. A kind of Magic it surely was.”
— Steve Miller, Banbury Guardian, June 2026
“For moments in this show, the audience might have felt themselves transported to Wembley Stadium as they were immersed in this fabulous tribute to Queen…”
— The Times of Tunbridge Wells, April 2023 (as quoted in our Press Room)
From event organisers and venues:
“Magic Queen were OUTSTANDING… they were the BEST band I have hired in a while…”
— President, UK Air Cargo Club, 2023
“Absolutely brilliant, huge hats off to the band [..] We couldn’t have wished for a better opening act to the festival!”
— Organiser, Commonwealth Games 2022 festival event, Tamworth
“They were outstanding – they were everything we hoped that a tribute band could be”
— Organiser, Oktoberfest Dundee 2019
“Spectacular, what an evening. MAGNIFICO!”
— Manager, The Beehive, Enfield
From audiences:
“Fantastic, brilliant evening. ‘Freddie’ and the band were superb and so energetic. The audience were on their feet.”
— Bandsintown fan review, Tunbridge Wells, November 2024
“I closed my eyes and thought I was back at Wembley ’86”
— Audience comment
“Freddie’d have instantly taken their show!!”
— Audience comment
Read more in our Magic Queen press reviews.
Gear and endorsements
We’re proud to be supported by these brands:
- Eugi Bartolo (drums): WFLIII Drums, Bosphorus Cymbals, London Drumstick Company, Porter & Davies and Cosmic Ears
- Rafa Diaz (guitar): Brian May Guitars and Cosmic Ears
Where we play
We’re based in London and travel all over the UK, across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and internationally. Recent and upcoming shows include London, Banbury, Stafford, Corby, Chesham, Loughborough, Letchworth Garden City, Haverhill, Tenbury Wells, Alnwick, North Shields, Stockton-on-Tees, Arbroath, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Haddington, Belfast, Dublin, Tenerife, Ljubljana and Sofia. For UK shows, travel and accommodation are included in our quote. For shows outside the UK, the hirer pays the band’s travel expenses.
Book Magic Queen
Send your date, the town or venue, the type of event and the show you’d like (one hour, or two 45-minute sets) by email to magic.queen.tribute@gmail.com or through our contact form. We reply within 48 hours. You can also contact our promoters, MLM Concerts. More on how to book Magic Queen.
Magic Queen is a tribute act and is not endorsed by Queen or any of its current or former members or related companies.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to book Magic Queen?
It depends on the date, the location, the length of the show and the production you need. Send us those details and we’ll give you a quote. For UK shows, travel and accommodation are included in the quote.
How long is the show?
We play either a one-hour show of Queen’s greatest hits, which is what we usually play at festivals, or two 45-minute sets with an interval, our theatre show.
Is it live? Do you use backing tracks?
Vocals (lead and backing), guitar, bass and drums are played and sung live. We don’t have a keyboard player, so the keyboard and synth parts, and some effects, come from backing tracks.
What’s included? Do you bring PA and lighting?
We work with a production company that brings the PA, lighting, a sound engineer and a video screen. We also have a technical rider; ask for it when you enquire.
Do you travel outside London and abroad?
Yes. We travel all over the UK, across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and internationally, and have played in Ireland, Spain (Tenerife), Slovenia and Bulgaria. For UK shows, travel and accommodation are included in our quote. For shows outside the UK, the hirer pays the band’s travel expenses.
Can we book Magic Queen for a private party or a corporate event?
Yes. We play private parties, corporate events, festivals, charity events and theatres. Past bookings include Grosvenor Casinos, the UK Air Cargo Club and festivals such as Rock The Mote and Oktoberfest Dundee.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can. Send us your date and we’ll reply within 48 hours to tell you whether it’s free.
Can we request songs?
No. We don’t take song requests for private events, including first-dance songs. The setlist covers Queen’s best-known hits, from “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “Don’t Stop Me Now”.
Do you wear costumes?
Yes. The band wears costumes from Queen’s 1970s and 1980s eras, with changes during the show, including Freddie’s crown and cape for the finale.
Is there an age limit for your shows?
Age rules are set by each venue, so check with the box office. For example, the Gillian Lynne Theatre doesn’t admit children under 4, and anyone aged 15 or under must come with an adult.
Is the venue accessible?
Access depends on the venue. Contact the venue’s box office about wheelchair spaces or other needs; most of the theatres we play publish their access information. For private events, our technical rider sets out what we need for load-in and the stage.
Are you connected to other “Magic” Queen tribute bands?
No. Magic Queen is a separate band based in London, with its own line-up and its own website, magicqueen.co.uk.
Who should press contact?
Our promoters, MLM Concerts. Photos are in our press photo folder.