Just Pretending is an all-live tribute to The Pretenders and Heart, recreating the studio recordings on stage with no backing tracks, just musicianship and high-powered rock energy. Fronted by veteran Chicago vocalist Karen Hart as Chrissie Hynde, the show has been packing festivals, fairs, and clubs since 2018 with the hits everyone forgot they knew by heart.
Just Pretending takes care to duplicate the original studio recordings live on stage, with no backing tracks or sequenced parts. The result is a real concert with the punch and spontaneity that classic-rock crowds respond to, anchored by a seasoned rhythm section that knows this material inside out.
The same ensemble delivers both The Pretenders and Heart, two of the most influential female-fronted bands in rock history. That flexibility lets a buyer program a Pretenders set, a Heart set, or a combined Women of Rock show, which is a natural fit for festivals and themed nights and a strong value for the budget.
Audiences are routinely surprised at just how many songs they know once the show starts, from Brass in Pocket and Back on the Chain Gang to Barracuda and Crazy on You. These were radio staples and movie-soundtrack favorites, and the show leans into that wave of recognition and nostalgia.
Lead vocalist Karen Hart is a fixture of the Chicago rock scene who has shared stages with national acts and fronted tributes to other major artists. With a polished stage plot, an all-ages high-energy presentation, and years of festival dates behind it, Just Pretending plugs easily into fairs, corporate events, and concert series.
The show earns its repeat bookings on energy and recognition, the moment when a crowd realizes how many of these songs they grew up on.
“I forgot how many songs I love were from The Pretenders!” — A common refrain from the crowd
That reception has carried the band to festival and theater stages across the region, including Club Arcada in St. Charles and Tribute Island in Kenosha, one of the largest tribute-band festivals in the country, alongside a steady run of Chicago-area fairs and concert series.
Just Pretending can be programmed to fit your event:
The Pretenders:
Heart:
The Pretenders and Heart together represent the gold standard of female-fronted rock. Chrissie Hynde led The Pretenders out of the late-1970s post-punk scene to international success and a 2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, while Ann and Nancy Wilson powered Heart to more than 35 million records sold and a Hall of Fame induction of their own in 2013. Their catalogs remain radio and soundtrack staples to this day.
Just Pretending brings both to the stage. Based in Chicago and performing since 2018, the band is fronted by veteran vocalist Karen Hart, who has shared stages with national acts and built a deep background in tribute performance, alongside vocalist Lisa Galliart and a full live band. The group prides itself on capturing the true essence of the original artists rather than leaning on studio shortcuts.
For buyers, the appeal is range and reliability: a polished, all-ages rock show that can flex between two beloved catalogs, slot into a festival lineup or a corporate stage, and send a crowd home having sung along to far more hits than they expected. It is a proven, road-tested package ready to tour.
While this is our top Pretenders tribute act, TSE Entertainment works with a range of high-quality Pretenders tributes nationwide.
That means you are not locked into a single option. We help match the right act to your event based on practical factors that actually affect success.
We have booked hundreds of tribute acts nationwide, and every option we recommend is vetted and event-proven. If Just Pretending is not the perfect fit, we will quickly suggest comparable options that are.
Pricing depends on date, location, routing, and which show format you choose. Just Pretending tours from Chicago and routes especially well throughout the Midwest, with national dates available. Contact TSE Entertainment for a quote and current availability, and we will manage the details from first inquiry through contract.
No. The band performs everything live, working to reproduce the original studio recordings on stage through musicianship alone.
Yes. The same ensemble offers a Pretenders show, a Heart show, or a combined Women of Rock set, which makes it a flexible and budget-friendly choice for festivals and themed events.
Just Pretending is built for festivals, fairs, corporate events, clubs, private parties, and concert series, and it works equally well for theater and casino lounge dates.
The set features the hits, including Brass in Pocket, Back on the Chain Gang, and Don’t Get Me Wrong from The Pretenders, plus Barracuda, Crazy on You, and Alone when the Heart catalog is included.
Just Pretending is based in Chicago and tours nationally. Midwest dates route most efficiently, and national bookings are welcome.
Book through TSE Entertainment. Call 800-765-8203 or use the contact form, and our team will confirm availability and pricing.
