The Beast UK, Iron Maiden Tribute - Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh 3rd October 2025

It’s only been a matter of a few months since the mighty Iron Maiden were playing sold out arenas and stadiums across Europe on their 50th anniversary Run For Your Lives tour and a 2026 tour announced just a week ago. So, the interest in arguably one of the world’s premiere heavy rock bands is pretty high and tonight shows how much as the Assembly Rooms is pretty busy with paying punters ready to see what The Beast UK have in store with their self-proclaimed largest tribute show to the stars. Billed as Somewhere On Tour (and a little bit more) the band have faithfully reproduced the stage set from 1986 complete with massive backdrop and light up risers. The massive drum set is the same as are the guitars used and hell, we even have that famous light up leather jacket with the beating red heart. We have a storm raging outside tonight but the people that braved the weather are in for a treat.

Once Doctor Doctor starts you know that the near 2-hour set was about to kick into action. It always gets the hair on the back of my neck standing to attention. The familiar Bladerunner theme signals that the band are about ready to tread the boards.

What we get for our hard-earned cash is a set full of tracks from Somewhere In Time and ones that the band themselves don’t play. With a few from the preceding albums thrown in for good measure the crowd are lapping it up.

Only one song from the preceding album Powerslave is played tonight but it had to be 2 Minutes To Midnight which was executed perfectly, as is the rest of the set. Complete with 3 guitars, something that the original tour didn’t have, but that’s just being a bit picky I reckon as all 3 axe wielding members play the intricate parts immaculately.  

We even get a few songs that were a bit newer with songs from Seventh Son and also Fear Of The Dark for good measure. Throw in a Union Jack flag on The Trooper and it’s all really accurate from this 6 piece.  

Now an Iron Maiden show wouldn’t be complete with an Eddie. Well tonight we have Freddie who is a bit of a combination of The Beast’s own mascot and the original and standing a good 10 feet tall. However, a few comparisons to the hand gestures of Tommy Cooper were heard later after the gig.

Fan favourite Hallowed Be Thy Name rounded off the night and what a great night it was. The band have just recorded a show which will be released as DVD in the future and also have further gigs planned, one being at the famous Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow on the 26th November. So, if you can’t wait for the real thing in 2026 then get a ticket to this as you won’t be disappointed.