Based in Toronto, Canada and touring internationally, ACROBAT – The U2 Tribute Band & Show has presented the live U2 concert experience to thousands of fans at music halls, festivals and corporate events across the Canada, the USA, and Latin America. Past references include House of Blues, Hard Rock, Versace Mansion, Universal Music, Revolution Live – and many other music halls, festivals, corporations, universities, resorts and casinos. U2’s record label has commissioned ACROBAT several times to provide customized theme shows for industry events and U2 fan festivals during both the U2: Innocence + Experience and The Joshua Tree 2017 tours.
ACROBAT models it’s repertoire and performances after the best of U2’s live concerts over the past 40 years – playing the top charted hits and rarities that satisfy both casual and hardcore fans alike. Each member is an avid fan who strongly believes that it is the live concert experience that has endeared U2 to it’s fans most. The full ACROBAT experience features a costumed show augmented by stunning multimedia visuals as a backdrop.
On July 6, 2015, U2 fulfilled every tribute band members’ ultimate dream by inviting us onstage to perform in front of 22,000 cheering U2 fans at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Relive the moment with us by visiting our Video page, and read the numerous newspaper and music industry articles and interviews on our Reviews page. ACROBAT sincerely thanks U2 for making our dream come true with the opportunity to play on their stage!
ACROBAT was originally formed in 2004 as October, titled after U2’s second album. Just prior to U2’s 360 Tour, original and newly joined members reached a consensus to rebrand the band after the number one most requested song that U2 had never played live: Acrobat, from Achtung Baby. While they could not have predicted the future, this foreshadowed U2 finally debuting the track live on the Experience + Innocence Tour in 2018.
Meet the Band
Gabrielvox as Bono:
Lead Vocals
In 1982 a childhood friend introduced Gabriel to a cassette of an early U2 show brought back from England. He was hooked by The Edge’s haunting chiming guitar assault and the persistent driving rhythm section. Bono’s soaring vocals sealed the deal and he became a fan for life.
Gabriel has been known for 2 decades around the performing circuit for his passionate interpretation of Bono’s vocals and mannerisms. He has seen U2 over 30 times and is regularly stopped by die hard fans who love to snap a photo with “young Bono”. He has been acknowledged by Bono himself: in 2005 when Bono brought him onstage during U2’s Vertigo stop in Detroit, and again with ACROBAT in 2015 in Toronto.
Martin Chorlton as The Edge:
Martin is a lifelong fan of U2 and in particular the sounds of The Edge ever since he heard The Joshua Tree and saw his first U2 concert (The Zoo TV tour) – which still remains Martin’s most memorable concert experience to date…a close tie with when he played shoulder to shoulder with The Edge in 2015 in Toronto, on U2’s own stage.
While Martin began playing guitar in high school to the genius of Eddie Van Halen, The Edge became the biggest influence on him as a guitarist. Martin’s dedication to recreate the tones and unique style of The Edge pays tribute to the legendary music of U2. Over the years, Martin has played in numerous rock and pop bands.
Mark Baker as Adam Clayton:
Mark has always been a fan and student of music, beginning with piano at the age of 6 and continuing with the trumpet in high school. In university, he played bass in various bands. Attending the Zoo TV tour at Maple Leaf Gardens was the event that changed Mark’s life forever and cemented his fandom.
Mark has seen U2 live 51 times and has met the band on several occasions. An avid collector of U2 memorabilia, he is known by U2 fans worldwide as the “U2BROTHR”, and was featured in a film by the same name that documents his fandom and dream to be invited onstage with U2. In 2015 this dream was fulfilled when he was asked to join U2 onstage in different cities.
Michael Wood as Larry Mullen Jr:
Ever since his older brother gave him a copy of the Joshua Tree, he has been hooked on U2 – learned to play drums as a teenager playing along with all their songs. As a result his style of playing closely resembles that of Larry Mullen, right down to his idiosyncrasies. Michael first saw U2 on the Popmart tour in 1997, and since then has seen U2 14 times and met Bono on several occasions.
In addition to ACROBAT, Michael drums for a number of local independent bands and artists including Andrew Huang, Leah Hunter, Your Heart, and Their Shallow Valley. Besides music, he has a Ph.D. Medical Biophysics and is a Scientist with high-tech optics firm.