Summer concert season is upon us, with super-star acts like Chris Stapleton and Rod Stewart set to take the Ball Arena stage this month. But before spending a fortune on big-ticket shows, may we suggest exploring some of Colorado’s top tribute bands? After all, with intimate venues and lively performances, these concerts can be nearly as epic as the real thing.

If You Went to High School in the 1960s

Remember where you were when the Beatles played The Ed Sullivan Show?
Try: 3eatles
The Conifer-based outfit is so committed to reproducing the Fab Four’s sound, it uses the same guitars and amps John, Paul, and George used while they were still playing clubs.
See the band: June 17 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Wrigley’s Chicago Bar and Grill in Golden.

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Know every word to “Rocky Mountain High”?
Try: “Cowboy” Brad Fitch
More than simply a John Denver cover singer, Fitch is an Estes Park luminary: The town has voted him its most interesting person.
See him: Every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday starting at 7 p.m. at Bond Park in Estes Park, from June 12 through August 16.

More of a Rocky Mountain high type?
Try: Crick Wooder
This Grateful Dead tribute band performs about 100 concerts a year, often at Boulder’s Sun Mountain Pub.
See the band: June 10, 6 to 9 p.m., as part of the Longmont Downtown Summer Concerts series.

If You Went to High School in the 1970s Or Later

Do you go hard?
Try: Live Wire
The Front Range quartet takes pride in providing an authentic AC/DC experience, from the school-boy-outfit striptease to the blazing riffs and LED lights.
See the band: June 18 at 7 p.m. at 2454 West in Greeley.

Prefer it easy like a Sunday morning?
Try: My Old School
To ensure it accurately reproduces Steely Dan’s highly produced jazz-pop sound, My Old School employs 11 musicians who have perfected 46 of the yacht rock icons’ songs.
See the band: Visit myoldschool.biz for updates to the band’s summer calendar.

Do you still believe?
Try: Journey Girls
Antonia Kilpatrick’s 11-year-old tribute-to-Journey ensemble may feature a rotating cast of musicians, sometimes even men, but the purpose remains the same: to inspire women to showcase their gifts.
See the band: July 2 at 2 p.m. at the Rand Yacht Club in Rand, south of Walden (tickets benefit the Wounded Warrior Project).