WESTLOCK – There’ll be a whole lot of hip shaking going on as the 15th-annual Blue Suede Music Festival returns to Westlock next weekend at the ag society grounds.
Since the beginning, the festival has been held in August, which conflicted with other Elvis festivals and some local events, so originator and organizer Trudy Taphorn has moved the event to Friday, July 28, through to Sunday, July 30.
“And hopefully after that, I will continue to have it at the end of July. It seems to work out better for some of the performers and it does work out better for me as well,” she said. “It is better all around. I don’t want to be on the long weekend, and I have to stay away from the Westlock ag fair, and Elvis week, and then I would be back to late August again.”
She said some people plan their holidays around the event and they’re happier it’s earlier as it’s gotten quite cold at night, plus it also near harvest time.
“Town council and the town itself is very onboard. I’m just hoping to get the people more excited about it and aware, as some people last year weren’t aware the festival was taking place,” she added.
This is the second year the festival will be held in Westlock and there will be 14 Elvis tribute artists performing. Taphorn said she had originally lined up 15, but one had to cancel at the last minute due to an illness in the family. A lot of them are regulars and one is returning after an absence from a couple of previous shows. One of the new performers is Sylvain Leduc, who won at Penticton, B.C. last year and the other is Will Humbarger and both are from the U.S.
One of the crowd favourites and festival regular from the beginning is Fred Steen, the “King of the North” from Chetwynd, B.C.
This year’s special VIP guest is Christopher Riordan from Los Angeles. He was Elvis’ favourite dancer who appeared in several movies with The King more than any other performer. Taphorn noted he was also at the 10th-annual festival, and she is excited to welcome him back this year.
“He wasn’t just in Elvis movies, he was in others as well, such as My Fair Lady and Night of the Iguana and others.”
Taphorn said she also has a couple of surprises including a special guest for the gospel time.
Also, for the 15th-anniversary, there will be special merchandise, plus a limited quantity of calendars which will feature performers right back to the first show, plus special dates in Elvis’ life. It’s a 15-month calendar for the 15th anniversary, beginning with October 2023.
“I’m hoping that there is interest with the stores in town. They’ve been approached about having a store-front decorating contest on an Elvis theme. Whoever has the best decorated store front will get a prize — two wrist bands to the festival and a couple of Blue Suede swag items included,” she said.
“It must include at least one picture of Elvis and some Elvis theme. Let their imagination go.”
There are still some reserved spots for RVs available at $40 for the entire weekend and the preferred spots up closer to the stage are $80 for the weekend. She said there is no extra charge for others, as there is lots of room for parking at the ag society grounds and there are also some reserved seating spots available. Wrist bands are just $60 for the weekend, and reserved are just $120.
The reason she keeps the prices this low for the whole weekend of Elvis entertainment is because donations to local food banks are also a requirement.
“We all know people who have more month than money left. It could be our neighbour. Everybody could use a little bit of extra,” Taphorn said.
Donations of non-perishable items are accepted upon entry to the festival and that doesn’t necessarily mean food items, she noted. Dog and cat food, baby diapers, baby formula, toothpaste will be accepted along with cash — donations are split between the food banks in Barrhead, Westlock, Morinville and the Ripple Connection in Barrhead. For more info, check out the festival website.
