Elvis lovers get your blue suede shoes and don't be a hound dog

Slip on your finest pair of blue suede shoes, because Elvis Presley is coming to town.

Well sort of.

The Blue Suede Music Festival aims to reconnect people Aug. 13 to 14 with the “King of Rock and Roll.”

About 15 performers from four provinces will pay tribute to the King by performing some of his greatest hits. Although Presley has been dead for more than 30 years, his music and image is still appreciated throughout the world.

“Any event that I go to, there are kids as young as three and four years old dancing to his music. I have a five-year-old coming to perform. He’s been doing it for a number of years,” said one of the organizers, Trudy Taphorn.

The first festival happened by accident.

“I had three of my friends come out, we made a few phone calls, and we had more than 100 people show up. They came off the roads just wondering what was going on,” said Taphorn.

The organizers of the first festival sat down after that first day and came to a decision that affected the future of the event.

“We decided that we should go big or go home. We extended the festival to two days. Sunday is now known as the gospel day, and we serve a pancake breakfast to go along with the gospel songs of Elvis,” said Taphorn.

The festival is growing each and every year. In 2010, the festival featured six performers. This year, that number has nearly tripled.

The number of visitors to the festival has been steadily growing as well. In 2010 about 250 people came out, while this year the festival is on track to have between 400 to 500 people.

“Judging by the emails and phone calls I’m getting, there is going to be a lot of people out. I got a call the other day from someone that said she was bringing 30 people. I’ve only got about 11 acres, so I’m thinking it might outgrow our place this year if it keeps getting as big as I think it’s going to be,” said Tap-horn.

The festival has attracted attention from across the Atlantic Ocean as two Elvis tribute performers from Europe have expressed interest in performing at the festival.

“One is from Scotland, and the other is from the Netherlands. They had heard about the festival and wondered if they could come. I told them to look at the website because this is charity event, and the performers are donating their time. I told them if they can get here, they’re welcome to come.” The festival will benefit the Barrhead food bank, and spectators will be asked to donate a non-perishable food item as well as a $5 minimum donation. In 2010, more than 600 lbs of food was donated.

The festival will be held at 56418 RR 12, bordering Sturgeon and Barr-head counties. For more information check out www.bluesuedemusicfestival.com or call Taphorn at 780-967-2754.