The Nashville Elvis Festival starts this week. Here’s what to expect
Elvis Presley’s Tennessee connections go beyond his palatial Memphis home. He recorded some of his most famous tunes in Nashville, including “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” That’s why the hip-shaking iconic musician will be celebrated at the 8th annual Nashville Elvis Festival. The popular four day festival celebrates the music and legacy of the proclaimed “King of Rock & Roll” with 10 shows, speakers and late night parties.
When and where is the Elvis festival?
The festival will take place from March 21 to 24 at Liberty Hall at The Factory at Franklin. Elvis-themed events include a tribute artist contest with top performers from around the world, parties and expert speakers. The festival starts Thursday night with a presentation on Elvis’ most famous movie roles and a reenactment of his famous 1974 “Live on Stage in Memphis” performance memorialized in an album. On Friday, the Elvis tribute-artist featuring performers from around the world contest kicks off.
Who founded the Elvis festival in Franklin? Why?
Tom Brown, the former Vice President of Original Production for Turner Classic Movies, cofounded the Nashville Elvis Festival with Brian Mayes to marry his love for Elvis and Nashville and bring the tribute contest to Nashville.
“I started hosting events for Graceland for Elvis Presley enterprises. In 2007, they created the Elvis tribute artist contest but not all of the impersonators represented Elvis in the best light. “Both Brian and I were living in Nashville at the time and we thought to ourselves: ‘These festivals are happening around the world, but there’s not one here in Nashville,'” Brown said. “Elvis recorded over 250 songs at RCA Studio in Nashville so why not have one here?”
For Brown, his love of Elvis goes beyond just being a fan of the music.
The Tupelo native attended the same elementary school as Presley and was in the audience for his famous recorded “Live on Stage from Memphis” concert in 1974. “I grew up three streets over behind the Elvis Presley birthplace,” Brown said. “When I was a kid growing up in the 1960s, he became part of my life. “You know how there’s always someone at schools who knows everything about a sport or celebrity, I was kind of the Elvis guy in school and Tupelo.”
What will this year’s Elvis festival include?
This year, the event will include a 50th anniversary recreation of the “Elvis as Recorded on Stage in Memphis, Tennessee” album. Bill Cherry, the winner of the tribute-artist contest in 2009, will be the star of the special performance. Founder Tom Brown is also taking the stage but as Charlie Hodge, Presley’s stage guy.
“50 years and one day after I saw Elvis do this show, I get to be Charlie Hodge for Bill Cherry’s tribute. It’s just eerie the way it worked out,” Brown said. The festival will also host a tribute concert in which the winners will advance to compete at Graceland’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Semifinal & Finals in Memphis.
The 21 contestants hail from Japan, England, Chile, Brazil, Norway, Germany and various cities across the United States.
As for special guests in attendance, there’s no telling who could show up this year.
Who has performed at the Elvis festival in the past?
Previous guests have included Wynonna Judd, John Schneider, Brenda Lee and Elvis’ best friend and “Memphis Mafia” member, Jerry Schilling.
Where can I get tickets for the 2024 Elvis festival?
Event tickets starting at $49 and four-day festival passes starting at $399 are currently available at www.NashvilleElvisFestival.com.
The tribute contest will be live streamed for a $25 fee.
