Town gearing up for ‘best’ Elvis Festival
EUROPE’S largest Elvis Presley festival will return to Porthcawl next month to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the death of the king.
The Porthcawl Elvis Festival is the largest of its kind on earth, so organisers of the iconic event are this year planning something even more eye catching than the usual.
To celebrate the anniversary, this year will involve a six-day, 90-mile “coastal walk” to kick off the programme, and, as usual, will feature fans and impersonators of the late superstar from across the country.
Organisers say the 2017 event, between September 21-24, will be bigger and better than ever.
Aside from the usual highlights of shows, the programme will also include an additional fourth day dedicated to Welsh language Elvises called “Diwrnod i’r Brenin” or “Day fit for a King”.
It will see local Welsh-speaking schools involved during the day with an Elvis-themed show in the evening featuring top Welsh language artists.
Many of the events are free but some of the events, including the Porthcawl Elvis gospel show vary and range from £6 upwards.
Event organiser Peter Phillips said: “As an art student in 1977, listening to the news of Elvis’ death from Radio Luxemburg on a car radio, I can honestly say that I had no plans to produce the world’s largest Elvis festival in a small Welsh seaside town.
“After 13 years I am immensely proud of what our team has achieved in Porthcawl but all we have done is channel the legacy of the world’s greatest entertainer. This year promises to be extra special!”
More information about the event is available at www.elvies. co.uk
AN artist who painted the Queen and television royalty Dame Barbara Windsor has turned his attention to tribute acts who tour the world impersonating the king of rock and roll.
Dan Llywelyn Hall has painted some of the most celebrated Elvis Presley tribute artists ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Memphis singer’s death today.
The Cardiff-born artist, whose expressionist-style painting of the Queen marking the 60th anniversary of the Coronation generated strong views among many in 2013, said the tribute acts provided a rich subject for portraits.
Llywelyn Hall added that the challenge was in “trying to decipher the individual characters that sit beneath these costumes”.
The 15 portraits of performers from as far afield as Mexico and Lithuania will be exhibited at what is considered to be the world’s biggest Elvis festival in Porthcawl next month.
The festival, which attracts up to 35,000 fans and generates millions for the local economy, is in its 14th year and will play host to 150 tribute acts from September 22 to 24.
Llywelyn Hall met his subjects in April during the Welsh event’s sister festival, the Benidorm Elvis Fiesta, sketching them backstage in between performances.
He said: “I suddenly realised that all of these guys have an absolutely unique stance on Elvis and over the course of their careers they have sort of carved out these different causes.
“They all have different approaches; some of them work in rehabilitation centres, they go around homes for the elderly and perform and they see that these people completely spring to life.
“So there is a sub-culture which has gone on surrounding Elvis which has now grown into something else, which I found the most fascinating thing.”
The portraits, which will also be reproduced in a book to be released at the festival, are being auctioned off in aid of an appeal set up by festival organiser Peter Phillips.
Mr Phillips, who describes himself as an Elvis fan “but probably not as big a fan” as some he has met over the last 14 years, is aiming to set up a foundation to fund live performances of Elvis tribute acts in nursing homes.
The auction will start today and run until September 25 with information available from www.danlhall.com