Bridlington's first Elvis Presley Weekender
A LITTLE Las Vegas glamour rolled into Bridlington at the weekend.
It was sideburns and sequins galore at the town's first Elvis Weekender.
Organisers hope the event, which celebrated the life and music of Elvis Presley, will grow to attract tens of thousands of visitors.
They hope to replicate the success of the Porthcawl Elvis Festival in Wales, the biggest of its kind in the world, which draws a crowd of 30,000.
At the Bridlington extravaganza, staged at The Spa, there were gospel songs, movie tunes and a music trilogy show highlighting The King's talent across his career.
But the highlight of the event were the heats to find the best Elvis tribute act – with the winner going on to the inaugural Elvis Tribute Artist World Cup in Cardiff in July.
It may be thousands of miles away from Memphis, Tennessee, but Bridlington is the perfect venue for the festivity say organisers.
Peter Phillips, who also runs the South Wales event, said: "It's been fantastic for the first year. We've been overwhelmed by it.
"We had high hopes, as Bridlington pressed all the buttons as a place for us to build an Elvis festival.
"We're confident the event here will be as big, if not bigger, than Porthcawl."
The event, which attracted hundreds of people across its first weekend in East Yorkshire, could provide a major annual boost to tourism in the seaside town.
Mr Phillips said: "In Porthcawl, all the local tourism businesses get swept up with the festival.
"Hotels have Elvis lookalikes serving meals in the hotels.
"We've chatted with local businesses in Bridlington and it's something they're keen to get behind."
Twenty contestants travelled from all over the country to take part in the tribute competition.
Winner Paul Malloy, 39, of Manchester, said: "It means a great deal to me to have won and to represent England in the World Cup.
"It's brilliant the event has come to Bridlington. Everyone loves Elvis – he has the X Factor, as you'd say."
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by Lisa Marie, Memphis, Hull
Thursday, February 25 2010, 12:31PM
“What a pile of poo this was! There were fat blokes pretending to be Elvis everywhere we looked. We did come on Sunday for the gosple show cos my partner likes that sort of stuff and it was crap. The main bloke was supposed to be a minister,,,,yeh right...sounded nothing like elvis. The guy in the white dinner suit looked like he was having a fit on stage......what a complete waste of a day and cash!
Never again......glad we didnt come for all of the weekend
- give me gay pride anyday!!! GET A LIFE YOU OVERWEIGHT SAD OLD MEN TRYING TO LIVE SOMEONE ELSES DREAM....THERE WILL ONLY BE 1 KING AND ITS NOT YOU!!!!!”
by mr moan, london
Thursday, February 25 2010, 12:13PM
“Wow what a dreadful lineup seriously this has become a national joke.What other star has followers trying to mimic him in a competition? ridiculous take away the white suits and wigs and you end up with some seriously deluded talentless people who would not even get on the club circuit in the north of England. In fact it has got so bad some clubs have no Elvis signs in the artists room because the ETA scene has produced a phenomenon never before seen.Talentless singers devoid of their own persona emulating very very badly the sexiest greatest showman who ever lived.Looking at the line up this weekend it is the same old same old people who believe that winning a competition such as this somehow gives them credence when in actual fact due to the deluded mentality of most entrants the awards only mean anything between them and their little clubs. Bizarre I for one wish Elvis was still alive simply to be able to watch real talent.”
by Gary, hull
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 9:58AM
“Elvis was and will always be the king of rock and roll, you lot need to chill and listen to his work and then you might appreciate why these lads and millions more like them feel the need to celebrate his life, you are the minority, how does it feel?
RAMSEY IS THE KING!”
by gary, hull
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 9:56AM
“RAMSEYYYYYYYYYYY fonzie and elvis and he's only had half!!!!!”
by Charles, cott
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 2:08AM
“Presley was truly dreadful but then they all were and still are. Popular music is a byword for dreck.”