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Strains of "I Was The One" rang out along the
platforms of Sydney's Central railway terminal as jumpsuited,
coiffed and guitar-wielding passengers boarded the "Elvis
Express" and "Blue Suede Express" bound for the country town of
Parkes, some 357 km (222 miles) westward.
"Elvis is close to my heart because we grew up with Elvis in
India," Alfred Vaz, who dressed in a blue flared jumpsuit and
also goes by his stage name of Bollywood Elvis, or Raja, told
Reuters television beside the locomotive.
"From a very little kid, we always used to gyrate and try sing
Elvis like: One for the money, two for the show," he said,
launching in to a rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes".
During the six-hour train trip over mountains and through
wheatfields and grazing pastures, Elvis tribute artists will
entertain the passengers.
The festival, in its 26th year, is expected to attract about
25,000 people to Parkes, more than doubling its population for
the duration of the four-day event.
The focus this year is on celebrating 50 years since Presley's
1968 "comeback special," an intimate and unplugged show credited
with reviving his then-flagging recording career.
Street markets, lookalike contests, parades, a car show,
displays of Presley artefacts and tribute performances are
planned.
"It's a must for all Elvis fans," said tribute artist Kingsley
Rock, whose website promises: "If you want the King to sing at
your thing, give me a ring."
"Its just one big party and everyone there loves Elvis, why
wouldn't you not come back year after year," he told Reuters.
(Reporting by Jill Gralow and James Redmayne. Writing by Tom
Westbrook, Editing by Michael Perry)
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