
Words: Michael Mills
Love me Rhondda, can’t help falling in love(ly boy). The wonder of n-you-port. I could go on, but, for the sake of us all, I think I won’t. It might be an image more readily associated with Las Vegas wedding chapels, but, later this week, hordes of Elvis impersonators are set to descend on a seaside town in sunny South Wales for the annual Porthcawl Elvis Festival.
It’s being billed as the largest festival of its kind in the world and previous years have seen everything from an Elvis-themed wedding to a whole crowd of Kings visiting the cast of Gavin & Stacey.
The backbone of the festival is the search for the best ETA (that’s Elvis Tribute Artist, for the uninitiated), who will be presented with the prestigious Gold Lame Jacket, but there will also be awards for various subgenres of Elvis, including ’68 Special and Vegas Elvis (Elvises? Elvi? Elvipodae?). There will also be performances by award-winning Elvis impersonators from across Europe, including the current European Gospel and All Ireland Champions.
The transformation of Porthcawl’s famous Grand Pavilion into an Elvis in Vegas-style floorshow will make for a fittingly grandiose setting. The final day of the festival will see The Elvis Gospel Show, a special concert hosted by the Reverend Steve Caprice, paying tribute to the music that inspired the King. In the afternoon, there will be a special performance of songs from Elvis’s movies, and the festival culminates with Trilogy, three sets recreating major stages of his career.
As with any self-respecting festival, the Porthcawl Elvis Festival has even inspired its own fringe. Over twenty venues in and around the town will be hosting their own Elvis-themed events. With such variety as that, it’s hardly surprising that the festival is Europe’s largest Elvis event.
- It may be three thousand miles to Graceland (or something like that), but luckily for you the Porthcawl Elvis Festival is a lot closer to hand. From karaoke Elvis for beginners to the world-conquering Elvies, there promises to a King to suit everyone. Fri 24-Sun 26 Sept, tickets: prices vary according to events.