Roel Ten Cate wearing his journalist hat at the arrival of the Elvis Express in 2014. (Photo: Keith Turk)
You had a direct input into the start of the festival, but can you tell us how it all came about? The festival actually came about after a party my family held at Gracelands. We had a great time dancing and singing, and Elvis music was a big part of that. After the party, we were having a few drinks of red wine with Bob Steel, who owned Gracelands and was serving us all night. We thought having a party for Elvis would be quite a hit.
After the first festival, did you ever imagine it would grow this big? The first party did work well, but mainly with devoted Elvis fans – not many of them from here, and quite a few travelling from around. The following early years were rough in terms of numbers, and local interest, but it just kept on going. But never in a million years did anyone think for one moment it would get to 30 years with 25,000 visitors, five days of events totalling more than 200, and $15 million injection into the economy.
What are your fondest memories of the past 29 years? Fondest memories are hard to pinpoint because I have enjoyed every festival. Meeting visitors to our town and seeing them having such a great time – and then returning each year with even more in their party. Meeting some of the key men and women in Elvis’s life over the years including his manager and one of his closest friends, Joe Esposito, who organised the Elvis Comeback Special. I also met some of his leading ladies and last year, Elvis’s road manager.
What do you think the festival has meant for our community? The festival has had an enormous influence on Parkes. We were always known as the town with the big dish, but now world-wide, we are also known as the town that hosts Elvis. In recent years, there have been more than 300,000 news reports each year about the festival world-wide. That’s not bad publicity for our great little town. Not to mention the $15 million it generates for our economy each year – and the people who have actually moved here because of the festival.
Is there one memory that really stands out for you? Probably one of the fondest memories was only recently when I helped to judge the Elvis Tribute Artists competition – and Toki Toyokazu from Japan won it – unbelievable!
What do you look forward to at the festival every year? I just love every aspect of the festival but probably more than anything else, the obvious enjoyment everyone is having. You can see people dancing, singing, laughing…they’re just so happy enjoying themselves. Of course, the artists are a big attraction – I have seen every feature artist we have had – not to mention the street parade (and taking part in it as well!), a drinks crawl to every establishment listening to the in-house artists, the arrival of the Elvis Express, the tribute artists competition… the list just doesn’t end!
Anything else you would like to say? It is hard to imagine the reception locals gave the Elvis concept and festival all those 30 years ago. It was cringeworthy, they said, we’re leaving town, this is embarrassing, but now locals thoroughly endorse and support it so much that they are inviting people into their homes just to ensure they have a bed so they can come. The Blue Hawaii theme is the most popular of the lot – and it is the theme for this year so it should be a fantastic festival. I can’t wait.