My first impression is that of a beautiful redhead in a bouffant hairdo wearing a skirt with teddy bears on a multi- layered crinoline. This enthused fan has a delicious smile. The last time I saw a smile like this was at DisneyWorld and it belonged to a seven year old that was totally captured by a make believe world. This festival transcends the mythical legendary rocker Elvis. It's not really about him. It's about the surround, the feeling of oneness with another world in an another time. This is an adult Holodeck, just like the three dimensional Star Trek adventure. Your invited to put on a wig, slap on golden Elvis sunglasses with sideburns attached to the orbit holes and become the king. At the same time, you can make the scene and become invisible; wonderful stuff, a joy, a wraparound, a living group having a party , indeed this is a rock 'n' roll Mardi Gras, all to the background of the kings music. This wayback machine feels like an early rock concert, and over 120 brightly garbed Elvii come to spin their magic Elvis impersonations; all to adoration fans that want to dance in blue suede shoes and to spin the adventure higher and higher. This is a living breathing, laughing weekend, where the medium is at one with the message, that Rock ' n ' Roll is back, Elvis is back, and hundreds of kings walk the walk. This occasion marks the 25th anniversary of Elvis' death back in the summer of 1977.

It's Friday afternoon and we make our way to the right of center stage. The eight piece ExSpence band from Chicago mount the outdoor stage and introduce a surprise drummer. It's D.J. Fontana, Elvis's original drummer that is famous for the background music of the King. Soon Leo Days jumps on stage with a black leather skin tight outfit and performs Jailhouse Rock. The audience rises in applause and the event is in full swing.

The local news and TV stations green light their cameras and move forward to capture the image of the King of Rock and Roll . Spontaneously we all start moving with the sound of the 50's. After another introduction Mike Bravener "The Dancer" in a white car coat launches into "Hound Dog and Blue Suede shoes. Its' only the beginning. " Back Stage Ireland's Emerald Elvis Mr. Mark Leen stands resplendent in the Sun in his black jumpsuit embossed with rhinestones ' IRELAND ". He chats casually with another European, Kevin Murthick from Bradford Yorkshire, England. They are waiting for their cue to perform. And soon they enter to a round of applause. The consistent rotation of Elvis impersonators is spellbinding and the music after one hour rides higher and higher. The evening has just begun. Rock On, Rock On !

Saturday : A Hangover Nostalgic Vintage Car / Elvis Parade / Bright Sun /There's that redhead with the bouffant again or maybe the remnants of my Elvis hangover is lifting. Everywhere I look I'm surrounded by Elvii ; three parade in white jumpsuits, "Great Balls Of Fire", their woman Elvii! I rub my eyes in the bright morning sun, yes I confirm, woman Elvii in marching hip swinging parade formation. We even had three female Elvis impersonators. last night on the main stage. Deborah Wynne Rotz swung her hips to "Shake Rattle and Roll" followed up by a soulful version of "Heartbreak Hotel". Today she waves to fans in a white car coat over a cool black high boy shirt sitting handsome on the pink convertible 57 Ford Thunderbird. She's followed by the youngest Elvis. "Boy Elvis" stands proud with his blue cape flowing on top of a red and white 60's convertible corvette. Tonight he'll rock em again on center stage! The Car show moves with the pace of a New Orleans style parade!

Countless women rush the cars to kiss there favorite Elvis and take pictures on this magnificent morning! What's this ? Even a chrome plated Elvis moves like a glimmering statue as he slides by with the sun dancing off the metallic pants and jacket. How did he get his platinum hair like that, I wonder ? I catch a glimpse of , well it can't be but , Oh it's a vintage early sixties Chev with Elvis in the front, whoops, this is crazy, no its a life size clay sculptured complete with black hair. I'll admit the driver and clay passenger had me really going for a minute! An Elvis in a gold suit drifts in a gold convertible. His driver wears an easy rider airforce leather hat in stars and strips.. How are you doing Geph I shoot! It's Geph Mitchell an Elvis Tribute artist form Brantford." Pretty Good , Pretty Good" he responds in a deep south accent! Next, the Sweet Inspirations drift by and wave. The Sweet ones backed up the King for over a decade. They still look and sound great!

The parade suddenly ends after about an hour and a half. What's next ? Oh yeah it's the pancake house for a bite. Onward and upward! We head downtown; gotta keep moving, and purchase $ 2.00 tickets for tonight's street dance with the Martels. Before going forward though , we stop to have tattoos, the spray kind; mounted on private, ...well... let's discover that after the street party shall we. The blonde German beauty ahead of us has a cannabis tattoo mounted on her right bosom and proudly displays it for our camera. I hear an echo " Your the Devil in Disguise" Husband ? " What husband she says, This ones for me" ! .

After dinner we put on comfortable dancing shoes and set out for the massive street dance.Like magic the Martels, sans Bobby Curtola, enter the huge center street stage and we're once again rocking. Dresses are flying and white bucks are jumping and kicking under the summer sky, Some vintage grooving adults take their bodies for a fling in a great booming medley of 50's rock!

My Rock n Roll Heaven ! It's Sunday where did Friday and Saturday Go! Sunday Morning you say, Whoa ! I seemed to have missed it! By the time we get to East Side Mario's it's already packed. We catch a brief set of Steve Kabakos dynamic impersonation of Elvis in Blue Hawaii. Next, we head out to Don Cherry's and finally find the perfect place to begin another action filled day. The fans are ensconced under a huge tent providing shade from the sun. The combination of cold draft and blistering heat and Rock- a -Billy from the huge flat car stage make my head dizzy. Elvis' fans from everywhere enjoy the fabulous impersonation of G.I. Elvis by King T.O. Shane Jeffery. As well Gino Monopoli performs and moves like a young Elvis clone. People rise up and dance on a make shift dance floor to " Teddy Bear " Our newly found American friends in Elvis wigs and glass/sideburn combo's are fully in the spirit by now, their singing the chorus to "Fools Rush In". Let's face it the majority of us are all into 50's and 60's music and this is Elvii-land! What's the town. It's Elvii- wood!!

Now let's get out to the new Indian Motorcycle Club on Blue Mountain for a cool afternoon pint. Whoa! There's Ray Kaminski and his beautiful lady, "heh Ray K, my friend, it's been many years, I caught your version of Glory Hallelujah last night. What's it been 15 years. Amazing how time rocks on ."

The only place to be on Sunday night is the Grand Finale in the arena! Can we get much higher ? Yes! What a weekend . Darrin Hagel electrifies the audience and takes first place non-professional..In mid-performance 13 year old Paul Fracassi discovers, like the great one from the past, that he can controls the band with his body and hand commands. He drives the ExSpense band into a frenzy; his head, hands and body turn into a blur. First Place to Kid Elvis, no contest!

The big award comes last. Seven contestants sing for the rubber. Manchester Elvis lifts the audience with a sterling set of songs. Next, Reggie Randolph stuns the audience and confounds the judges with his sequined jumpsuit persona and an amazing performance. One great performance after another tightens the score cards creating an all shook up decision process. Mark Leen steps on stage and his performance convinces me that Elvis has reincarnated in Ireland ! And What's this, King Creole! David Lee Roseberry wants to remind all of us that the soul of Elvis still resides in the deep south near his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Return them to Sender ! It's John Loos the 2002 Las Vegas World Champion Elvis puts on another World Class impersonation ! Finally, Robin Kelly in a pink car coat hopes to show the audience what the real Elvis had in him. With Gyrating Hips he lifts the band into overdrive and dances his wild Hip Hop Memphis Rock across the stage. The crowd is on it's feet, Jailhouse Rock has everybody leaping and jumping. They roar approval; he bends and leaps into a heaven on a crescendo ending; that's it, a first place ending..

Thank Ya, Thank Ya Very Much !

Official Winners :

Professional Category :

1st Place - Robin Kelly

2nd Place - David Lee Roseberry

3rd Place - Roy Evans

4th Place - Mark Leen

5th Place - Reggie Randolph

6th Place - John Loos

7th Place - Shane Jeffery

Non-Professional Category :

1st Place - Darrin Hagel

2nd Place - Doug Shimizu

3rd Place - Freddy Baggett

4th Place - Gino Monopoli

Youth Category :

1st Place - Paul Fracassi

2nd Place - Joshua Bravener

3rd Place - Matthew Lawrence

(c) copyright , August 2002 Robert Mullen, c/o wwwthebrotherhoodband.com