Diehard fans board Elvis Express in fancy dress for festival dedicated to music legend

SAM January 09, 2020
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 09: Mayor of Parkes Ken Keith prepares to board the Elvis Express train from Central Station heading to Parkes on January 09, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Parkes Elvis Festival is held annually over five days, timed to coincide with Elvis Presley's birth date in January. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
Mayor Ken Keith in a spectacular blue jumpsuit (Picture: Getty Images AsiaPac/ WENDELL TEODORO)

If you’re looking for an Elvis Presley impersonator, Las Vegas usually comes to mind – but it seems Australia is another hot spot for fans of the music legend.

Earlier today, dozens of diehard Elvis fans rocked up to Sydney’s Central Station, dressed in some of the American singer’s most famous outfits.

They gathered to board the Elvis Express – a train which makes a seven-hour journey to Parkes, where a festival dedicated to the rock ‘n’ roll King is held.

Last year, around 27,000 people travelled to Parkes for the tribute event, which saw the town’s population double for the five-day festival.

Elvis impersonators George Booking, Che Orton, Stuey V and John Collins
Committed outfits (Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Elvis fans pose ahead of boarding the Elvis Express train from Central Station heading to Parkes on January 09, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Parkes Elvis Festival is held annually over five days, timed to coincide with Elvis Presley's birth date in January. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
What an ensemble (Picture: Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
Elvis impersonator John Elvis Collins poses at Central Station
Elvis impersonator John Elvis Collins in his incredible outfit (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)

The annual event pays homage to the late star’s birthday, which falls on 8 January.

Alongside Elvis impersonators, a number of performers and dancers were on board the Elvis Express – which departed before 8.30am this morning.

Alfred Vaz, from Denistone in New South Wales, boarded the train in a custom-made gold jumpsuit from India.

Elvis impersonator Alfred Vaz poses at Central Station ahead of boarding the Elvis Express train from Central Station heading to Parkes on January 09, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Parkes Elvis Festival is held annually over five days, timed to coincide with Elvis Presley's birth date in January. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
Alfred Vaz poses at Central Station (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)

But his creative outfits have been noticed before – Alfred came runner-up in the festival’s senior tribute artist competition in 2018.

He told APP: ‘I don’t call him the king, I call him the emperor – the king of kings. His music is going to live for centuries.’

Alfred was joined by Anthony Fenech, a 24-year-old second generation Elvis impersonator.

Anthony has been performing for around two years and followed in the footsteps of his father, who has been an Elvis tribute artist for more than 20 years.

He said: ‘People loved it, the whole father and son thing – it’s actually never been done anywhere in the world.’

Elvis impersonator Sean Wright prepares to board the Elvis Express at Central Station in Sydney, Thursday, January 9, 2020. The Elvis Express train leaves from Central Station for its journey to Parkes for the Elvis festival. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING
Elvis impersonator Sean Wright prepares to board the train (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
An Elvis impersonator poses at Central Station ahead of boarding the Elvis Express train from Central Station heading to Parkes on January 09, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Parkes Elvis Festival is held annually over five days, timed to coincide with Elvis Presley's birth date in January. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
Some rockin’ moves (Picture:Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
An Elvis impersonator prepares to board the Elvis Express train from Central Station heading to Parkes on January 09, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Parkes Elvis Festival is held annually over five days, timed to coincide with Elvis Presley's birth date in January. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
Quick hair check (Picture: by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 09: Atmosphere during the Elvis Express train from Sydney to Parkes on January 09, 2020 in NSW, Australia. The Parkes Elvis Festival is held annually over five days, timed to coincide with Elvis Presley's birth date in January. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
Fans on board (Picture: Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)

Parkes Shire Council mayor Ken Keith was also at the station wearing a powder blue jumpsuit with silver studs.

He said: ‘Everyone just loves Elvis and Parkes is just the friendliest town in Australia.’

We’re willing to bet there were a lot of blue suede shoes on the train, too.

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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/09/diehard-fans-board-elvis-express-in-fancy-dress-for-festival-dedicated-to-music-legend-12028534/
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