Elvis Express: Fans rock n’ roll their way to festival
ELV IS Presley may have “lef t t he building” four decades ago, but his spirit was a live and well at Sydney’s main station on Thursday, as hundreds of fans boarded trains to an outback fest iva l celebrat i ng t hei r idol.
Dressed i n colour f ul sequined jumpsuits, blue suede shoes and having used copious amounts of hairspray, lookalikes sang and danced to hits belted out by tribute artists.
The part y atmosphere was a f itt i ng t r ibute to t he c u lt u r a l a nd musical legacy of “The King”, whose appea l has spa nned decades a nd generations, and reached far beyond his American roots.
The revel lers at Cent ra l stat ion were boarding t he “Elv is Express” and “Blue Suede Express”, two trains put on to take them to the small outback town of Parkes, 300km west of Sydney.
“He was just a gorgeous guy and I just loved a ll t he music and his love songs,” said Ly nette Mar, who was set to boa rd t he 1950s-era diesel “Blue Suede Express” to celebrate her 60t h bi r t hday wit h f r iends i n Parkes.
“It’s just great dance music.”
Each year, Parkes – whose radio telescope played a pivota l role i n br i ng i ng Nei l A r mst rong’s 1969 moon landing to the world – transforms into a haven for Elv is ent husiasts when it hosts a f ive-day tribute fest iva l.
‘Elvis Capital of Australia’
First held in 1993 to coincide wit h t he singer’s Januar y 8 birt hday, t he Elv is Festival has placed the mining town on the tourist map and earned it t he moniker “Elv is Capita l of Aust ra l ia”.
Regular attendee Jenny Dollin – who wore a plastic cap shaped like Elv is’ pompadour hairst yle, a white tunic top a nd bell-bottoms – sa id she loved the energ y and excitement of t he fest iva l.
“I go to Parkes because it’s so much fun. We have a lovely time, I love the Elv ises,” Dollin said.
Over 25,000 v isitors are expected to descend on Parkes to ta ke part in t he festiv ities, more t han t wice t he population of the town.
“T he people at Pa rkes a re so friendly,” Dollin said. “Ever yone on t he train is ver y friendly and it’s just a rea lly good time.”