Jeff Lewis hosts the popular Elvis Week after parties in Memphis, has won the Last Chance Ultimate at the Hard Rock in Memphis and competed in the Elvis Presley Enterprises Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest himself. This is Jeff’s first time performing in Australia and he will emcee and perform at the Parkes Elvis Festival, and host the first ever after party of the festival.

How do you feel about coming to the Parkes Elvis Festival?

Going to Australia has always been a dream of mine. I first fell in love with Australia after seeing Crocodile Dundee in college. I am so excited about seeing the festival in person, but I am also excited about seeing so many friends in Australia I have met online through my Facebook Live Shows. It will be great to finally perform for them in person. Plus, any time I get the chance to sing with the band Tributes In Concert Band (TIC), I’ll take it. I think they are the best Elvis band in the world.

What have you heard about the Parkes Elvis Festival?

I have heard it is the biggest festival in the world. Also, that the fan base is incredible. I know this is going to be an experience I will never forget. But the most important thing, I heard the fans are HUGE Elvis fans, that is why we do this.

In your award-winning career as an ETA, and with your long history of performing with ETAs, do you hope to see some fresh talent in Parkes?

I respect anyone who picks up a microphone, puts on the sideburns, and pays tribute to the greatest entertainer in history, Elvis Presley. We all do this because of our love for Elvis. There are so many performers in Australia I have only seen online, I can’t wait to see them pay their tribute in person.

Why do you think Elvis has such an enduring legacy after all these years?

I get asked this question a lot. The simple answer is, he was great. He was one of the best singers that ever lived and definitely the most charismatic performer that has ever taken the stage. The more complex answer is how he was able to reinvent himself in so many ways.

Now here we are, 45 years after his death, and we are still celebrating Elvis with Festivals all over the world and soon, a movie that will create a whole new generation of fans.

What keeps you connected to Elvis?

There is never a time I don’t love hearing Elvis. I’ve always been a huge fan, but I never dreamed I’d be making a living due to my love for him. The more Elvis fans I meet, the more of the Elvis world I experience, the more I learn about Elvis. I also see pictures and hear songs I had never heard. The coolest thing about this experience are the experiences I’ve had meeting and becoming friends with people that worked with and knew Elvis. That has really given Elvis a third dimension for me.

Do you have a favourite Elvis song to listen to and a favourite one to perform?

I love to perform the more obscure songs from the 70s like ‘Heart of Rome’, ‘Padre’, and a lot of his gospel songs, my favourite being ‘He Touched Me’. ‘Separate Ways’ has always been one of my favourites to listen to, but as soon as I say that, I think of a few hundred more I love hearing.

Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist, producer and record label founder, and staple of Australian entertainment for over 50 years, Brian Cadd is this year’s Elvis Wall of Fame honouree.

You’ve received many awards and honours in your career, how do you feel about being honoured on the Wall of Fame at the Parkes Elvis Festival?

All awards are special. Making it onto the Wall of Fame is a wonderful honour. I truly appreciate it and look forward to the ceremony and my time in Parkes. Being able to do a show as well is most exciting.

Do you listen to Elvis? Do you have a favourite Elvis song?

I think everyone listens to Elvis from time to time. He was a huge part of my musical upbringing when I first started to learn the piano. Blue Suede Shoes is still a tremendous song and recording. Very simple and perfectly written, performed and recorded.

What can fans expect to hear at your concert in Parkes?

All the hits and memories. Some stories and some laughs. The most fun I can have is onstage and the audience usually goes right along with it.

Why do you think Elvis has such an enduring legacy after all these years?

He was really the first truly unique rock artist we experienced. There were others before him but no one had anywhere near his originality. And now, sixty years on, there may still not have been anyone quite as unique

Do you think the Parkes Elvis Festival plays an important role in the music landscape in Australia?

To me the true test of a vibrant music scene is about the variety of musical experiences the audience can enjoy. We are blessed with lots of lovely festivals in Australia, celebrating a wide diversity of tastes. The Elvis Festival is a superb example of that. A most deserved place in our musical landscape.

Have you ever performed an Elvis song?

I’m 75 years old and have been playing in front of audiences since I was 13. I can’t imagine how many times I’ve played an Elvis song.

If you are a regular parkrun participant, then you should be at the Northparkes Oval on Saturday, 23rd April at 8am for the first ever Elvis-themed parkrun!

Put on your blue suede running shoes for this brand-new Elvis Festival event as the Northparkes Oval parkrun celebrated its first birthday only last month.

While the whole town will be filled with people dressed in Elvis jumpsuits and Speedway-themes costumes, there is no way parkrun participants should miss out on such a golden opportunity to rock ‘n roll an Elvis parkrun!

Dressing up for a parkrun is not something new, but only in Parkes will you get the opportunity to do an Elvis parkrun.

“The volunteers will join in too, and there will be Elvis music to cheer everyone on,” said parkrun organiser Ronel van Wyk.

With so many visitors to town during the Elvis Festival, the parkrun organisers are eager to get a good turnout for the weekly 5km event.

Elvis might not have done running as a sport, but he would probably have been proud of this effort as he was a big sports participant and fan. When he wasn’t on stage, in a studio or on the big screen, there’s a good chance you could find Elvis Presley playing football, or watching his favourite teams compete on TV. He played football on the grounds at Graceland.

So come along on Saturday, 23rd April and be part of this historic first Elvis parkrun. Parkruns are free, weekly, community events all around the world on a Saturday morning at 8am. It usually takes place in parks and open spaces over 5km. The event is open to everyone whether you are running, jogging or walking. There is no time limit and no one finishes last.

The once-in-a-lifetime Speedway Car Exhibition is sure to get all car lovers and enthusiasts heart rate racing.

“We are absolutely thrilled to share this collection of racing and prestigious cars along with racing memorabilia and virtual reality simulators in this free exhibition,” said Parkes Elvis Festival Director, Tiffany Steel.

The free exhibition at 375 Clarinda Street, Parkes is open every day from 9am to 5pm, and if European cars get your engine going, the exhibition features a beautiful racing Porsche GT3RS, 500 hp that does 0-100 in 3.2 seconds.

There is also Peter O’Donnell’s BMW313i which has completed more laps of the famous Bathurst circuit than any other car and was last year’s Bathurst 6-hour winner.

As the name suggests, there will also be a collection of speedway cars including Sprint cars, modified sedans and even a 37 Ford Coupe Hot-rod Beach Racer. Parkes local John Pizzaro, Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame inductee, World and Australian Title winner will have three of his karts on display.

There will be a display of racing suits worn by racing legends including Peter Brock, Allan Jones, Jim Richards and Stephen Richards along with rare racing memorabilia.

Who can clock the fastest lap?

World class Seattime car racing simulators as used by racing drivers, especially during last year’s lockdowns, will also be a drawcard of the exhibition. Anyone over the age of 12 can book a timeslot via the Parkes Elvis Festival website where you can choose to challenge for the fastest lap of the Elvis Festival or test yourself on a wide range of other tracks available.

The Elvis shuttle bus service will have a stop in Mitchell Street right outside the entrance making getting to and from the exhibit very easy.

Start your engines, put on your blue suede shoes and come party with us in Amazing Forbes! Forbes is proud to partner with the Parkes Elvis Festival to expand the offering of events over the course of the week. Amazing Forbes loves a party and this is no exception!

The Amazing Forbes Street Breakfast has become a favourite for Elvis-goers and local Elvis fans alike to attend during the festival. Come and start your day the right way and get your boogie on – with a good feed, funky entertainment and maybe even a bit of a jive!

It all happens in Templar Street, right in the heart of the CBD from 7-10am Friday, 22nd April; with plenty of yummy brekky options to choose from – and of course, good coffee to get you in the groove for the rest of the day! Cafés are located in Templar, Lachlan and Rankin Streets. Entry is free – just buy your own brekky. Spot the red Mustang and stop for a selfie – just like Elvis!

And why not also have a browse at our gorgeous boutique stores before you head off to more Elvis-infused activities and events? Buses leave from Club Forbes to Parkes up the other end of Templar Street at 9.10am, 11.10am and 1.10pm.

Other exciting events that are happening in Amazing Forbes over the course of the Festival include:

The Presley Gala at Club Forbes: Performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm-11pm featuring Nigel Stanley, Ricky Ford, Rick Charles, Terry Leonard, Gabe Phoenix and Mark Caligiuri.

Elvis Entertainment at the “Golfie” (Forbes Golf and Sportsman’s Hotel): Performances from Bernie Peri on Friday night 7.30-10.30pm, Locked and Loaded (Rockabilly) on Saturday night 7-11pm, and Barockers on Sunday afternoon 1-5pm.

Contact the venues directly for more information on these fun events!

Buses will operate between Forbes and Parkes during the festival, and bus stop locations are at Big 4 Forbes Holiday Park (Flint Street), Forbes Showground (Show Street), Club Forbes (Templar Street/Newell Highway) and Sam Street/Newell Highway (opposite the Forbes Golf Club). Bus timetables are available at the Forbes Visitor Information Centre.

* Elvis PresleyTM © 2021 AGB EPE IP LLC

After two years of slow living and ‘tracky dacs dress ups’ at home, the green flag is up and it is time to speed up the fun, friendly feel-good vibe that draws thousands to the Parkes Elvis Festival.

The King is back and from today Parkes will transform into a red, white and blue melting pot of go-go dancing girls, racing overalls and suits, spectacular racing cars, and of course the ubiquitous Elvis jumpsuit for this year’s Speedway theme.

The next five days are jam-packed with more than 400 Elvis and speedway inspired events. Apart from all the much-loved festival favourites like the Street Parade, Renewal of Vows, Gospel Service, Miss Priscilla Dinner, and free Cooke Park Main Stage Entertainment, a host of new and unique events will make the comeback festival an unforgettable one.

There is the Speedway Exhibit of rare and classic race cars and virtual reality simulators, a Pin-Up Pageant for rockabilly and vintage fashion lovers, a wild rock and roll play about Sun Records, Mark Anthony’s one-off special Speedway Show, a virtual Q&A appearance by Speedway child star Victoria Paige Meyerink, and Charles Stone, tour producer for the Elvis Presley Tours in the 1970s.

Taylor Rodriguez, the USA’s 2019 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion, will make his Australian debut at the Feature Concert Series, and the list goes on and on for a festival where you can forget about the troubles and hardships of the past two years to rock ‘n roll to your heart’s content.

By Maggi Barnard

The famous Sun Record label was founded by producer Sam Phillips in Memphis, Tennessee in February 1952. Sun was the first label to record Elvis Presley, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. Sydney musician John Kennedy answered questions about the show:

Is the show a musical or cabaret?

Sons of Sun is neither a traditional musical or a cabaret. Told through the character of Sun Records’ founder Sam Phillips, his assistant Marion Keisker, and the famous musicians that Sam recorded, the show features a three-piece live band and three actors performing a scripted play. The focus constantly shifts from the story to the songs and back.

Whose music is featured in the show?

Fronted by Sydney musician John Kennedy, the Sons of Sun band performs excerpts of 35 songs from the artists who were discovered by Sam Philips ranging from Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. But it also shows how Sam had originally set up his recording service to champion the music of black rhythm and blues musicians in the Memphis area. Howlin’ Wolf, BB King, Ike Turner, Rufus Thomas and many more artists recording at Sam’s studio before the discovery of Elvis.

Will Elvis fans get to hear some of their favourite songs?

Fans will hear a lot of Elvis and a whole lot more. The show outlines Sam Phillips’ musical influences from his early life and his struggle in setting up Sun Records until his discovery of Elvis. Elvis’ Sun Record recordings are featured along with some of his early RCA hits.

Who performs in the show?

The tenacious Sam Phillips is played by Sydney actor, Matt Charleston, with co-stars Victoria Beck and Ben Maclaine taking on multiple roles from Sam’s assistant Marion Keisker to Howlin’ Wolf. Alongside John Kennedy in the Sons of Sun band are original Red Wiggle, Murray Cook on lead guitar and Phil Hall on bass.

Sons of Sun is on at The Little Theatre at 1pm today, 20th April and 1pm on Thursday, 21st April.

Here’s a school holiday activity. Take a drive around the countryside of Blayney Shire for the Sculptures by the Bush tourist trail of outdoor artworks that dots the scenic land-scapes around Blayney during April each year.

Local residents and community groups create sculptures in one of three categories: Hay Bale Art, Farm Art and Scarecrows.

New sculptures are created every year and a list of entries and the digital map will be available on the Blayney Shire Council website and Sculptures by the Bush Facebook page.