VIVA GIVES IT UP TO ALL THE KINGS
IMPERSONATORS are dusting off their blue suede shoes and grooming their sideburns for the Gold Coast’s biggest Elvis tribute festival.
VIVA Surfers Paradise kicks off today – the annual festival where dozens of impersonators flock to Cavill Avenue dressed to impress in tribute to the “King” Elvis Presley.
Mark Andrew has been “impersonating” the famed 50’s rock and roll legend for 21 years.
But the 52-year-old doesn’t consider himself an impersonator as he “doesn’t like the word.”
“I consider myself a tribute actor. I do a lot of acting,” he said.
“For VIVA I won’t just be Elvis. I also dress up as Dean Martin, John Lennon and Jim Morrison.”
Over the next 10 days, a preliminary competition will be held for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. The best Aussie tribute artist will have the chance to compete in the championships in Memphis on August 16 which is the 42nd anniversary of Elvis’ death at age 42.
Stephen Fletcher, known on stage as Kingsley Rock, says to be the best you must be able to belt out an Elvis tune on request.
“I can hold a tune reasonably well, all of the top guys can really sing,” he said.
The free VIVA Surfers Paradise event runs until July 21.