Elvis lives on down under

SEQUIN jumpsuits and Vegas showgirls outnumbered shirts and ties at Sydney’s Central station yesterday as hundreds of Elvis fans boarded a train bound for a festival dedicated to The King.

The annual Parkes Elvis festival features five days of tribute concerts, memorabilia exhibits and even a Priscilla Presley look-a-like competition.

Held in the small rural town of Parkes, about 350 kilometres west of Sydney, the festival began 25 years ago as a modest Elvisthemed birthday party.

Since then, it has ballooned into a tourism boon for the area.

“It’s unique in its own right, especially if you’re an Elvis fan and you love Elvis,” said Johnny Angel, one of the hundreds of tribute acts performing at the event.

“You got to do this once in your lifetime, it would be grand. You should put it on the bucket list.

“For those fans, I’m going to sing Viva Las Vegas, because that is the theme – so I’m gonna sing that one, – Don’t be Cruel, Teddy Bear and some love songs,” he added.

“I don’t think that any Elvis fan can really tell you what it is about Elvis,” said impersonator Aaron Mansfield.

“It’s magic, it’s got this sort of ... I don’t know man, you just can’t describe it.”

The festival, which is expected to attract 25,000 people, ends this Sunday. – AFP