One-Tank Trip for
July 13/19
(c) By Jim Fox
This could be
called the summer of Elvis as there will be numerous sightings of what appears
to be the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” around southern Ontario.
Keep a watch for
multiple Elvi’s in Collingwood and Tweed at festivals in his honour.
Even as Elvis “left
the building” for good with his death at age 42 in 1977, his aura and
popularity continue unabated.
There are shows
around the world and even an all-Elvis channel on Sirius-XM satellite radio.
Fans from around
the world show up daily to visit Graceland, his mansion in Memphis.
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| Visitors arrive daily to pay respects to Elvis at his grave site at the Graceland estate in Memphis. (Photo by Jim Fox) |
In Niagara Falls,
Steve Michaels (Kabakos), of Milton who sings, moves, grooves and bears an uncanny
resemblance to the king appears in concert from Sept. 5 to 15 at Fallsview Casino
Resort.
There’s a really
big show in Collingwood with more than 100 Elvis “tribute artists” for this
year’s 25th anniversary from July 26 to 28.
Fans are still wondering
if this will be the last Elvis fest there and are saying to the town council
“Don’t be Cruel” and pull the plug.
There’s new hope
now even after councillors withdrew their support starting next year due to
rising costs and administrative concerns.
The town is
considering turning it over to a suitable sponsor as a “facilitator” with
council’s oversight.
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| Elvis tribute artists will be rocking and rolling at the annual Collingwood festival. (Photo by Dave West) |
Thousands of fans jam downtown streets and
stages throughout town for what is recognized as the world’s largest annual
gathering of Elvis tribute artists.
Homecoming hootenanny
Collingwood fest
organizers have selected homecoming as this year’s theme.
This is to
“recognize and reminisce with fans, friends and family about all that makes
Collingwood and Elvis so very unique and special.”
There will be
too-many-to-mention Elvis tributes, signatures shows, a Saturday night
performance by Memphis Jones & His Trio, Sunday morning Sunrise Gospel
Showcase and returning Grand Champions and VIPs.
Friday events
include the Outdoor Awesome Street Party from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and
qualifying competitions.
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| Fans cheer on the Elvis tribute artists at the popular car parade in Collingwood. |
Elvi’s will be
gathering to greet the crowds at the Classic Car Parade on Saturday morning
with about 50 vehicles in the lineup.
In addition to
three ticketed Signature Events along with the competitions, there are Elvis
tribute artists performing at associated venues as well as the two stages on
Hurontario Street.
There is a Vendor
Walk and ElvisYourselvis, an interactive station that measures how well a
person mimics the moves of Elvis.
For more details: collingwoodelvisfestival.com;
(705) 444-2500, Ext. 3279
More “Good Rockin Tonight”
It’s being called
“The Biggest Little Elvis Festival Anywhere” and it happens in Tweed, north of
Belleville, from Aug. 23 to 25.
The fest is in its
ninth year and welcomes 18 tribute artists in competition to represent Tweed at
the preliminary round in Memphis.
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| Diogo “Di” Light will appear as Elvis at the Tweed festival. (Photo by Tovita Razzi) |
One of the headline
events is the Friday Night Showcase on Aug. 23 featuring Diogo “Di” Light as
Elvis backed by the Casino Bros. Band. tweedelvisfestival.ca
Return to Grace
Elvis fans will be
movin’ and groovin’ when Steve Michaels takes the stage for his Las Vegas-style
show Return to Grace at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls Sept. 5 to 15.
The theatrical concert
production combines the aspects of Elvis’ career and traces the greatest
musical moments with song favourites that include All Shook Up, Are You
Lonesome Tonight, Great American Trilogy, Heartbreak Hotel, How Great Thou Art,
Love Me Tender and Teddy Bear.
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| Steve Michaels stars in Return to Grace at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls. |
Backed by
30 musicians, dancers and singers, Return to Grace features Michaels
performing every phase of the “King’s” career from his early years through the
1968 Comeback Special to the triumphant Aloha concert in Hawaii in 1973. fallsviewcasinoresort.com
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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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