PORTHCAWL ELVIS FESTIVAL | REVIEW
The Porthcawl Elvis Festival,
Fri 27-Sun 29 Sept
Every pub, club, restaurant, B+B and of course the chip shop overflowed in Porthcawl at the world famous Elvis Festival this September. The eclectic crowd of Elvis lovers created a euphoric atmosphere that just made everyone smile all weekend while enjoying the most iconic Elvis tribute acts. The hub of the festival is held at the Historic Grand Pavilion Theatre, where the best tributes take stage to compete for The Ultimate Elvis acts and put on a fantastic show. The youngest entrant was a seventeen year old guy from Birmingham and there was a handsome Maltese tribute, Gordon Elvis and a big well done to Daren Graceland Jones for winning the Best Welsh Elvis. There was even Best Female Elvis, proudly won by Emma. There is something creeping about watching aging and slightly weighty men in baby blue jump suits incrusted with jewels! But then I’m up there screaming at the sexy ones in the black leathers! To be a real winner it’s not just the voice, they have to have the charisma and confidence to thrust that pelvis, smirk at the ladies and woo the audience and the only one who has it for me is Ben Portsmouth, with a close runner up of Ben Thompson. The Pavilion hosted the first Elvis festival 10 years ago and each year since has just got bigger and better. This year the award ceremony was hosted by Charles Stone, a onetime production manager of the Real Elvis, who was very emotional to see that Elvis is very much alive and living in Porthcawl. Harden fans have already booked tickets and accommodation for next year so make sure you block out the last weekend of September 2014 and join me and all the other Elvies.
words: AMANDA HEYWOOD