Largest Elvis Presley festival in Europe hits Porthcawl

A swarm of Elvis Presleys descended on a small seaside town on Friday.

Porthcawl in Bridgend is set to welcome 40,000 people this weekend for the largest Elvis Presley tribute festival in Europe.

Elvis acts will battle to be crowned the best performer on Saturday, and the judges are looking for the best entertainers.

The acts have brought tears to many eyes, audience members said.

The festival began in 2004 and and has grown massively.

Paula Horn has been one of the competition judges for eight years and said this festival is the highlight of her year.

“There was nothing before 2003 where you could get together with an Elvis,” she said. “I was here for the first year and there was only about 500 of us.”

“I remember the first ETA (Elvis tribute act) I saw was Kraig Parker, he did a concert in the first year at the Hi-Tide. He is the first singer to make me cry.”

“I would never have had the pleasure of seeing Elvis and I was sat at the front of the stage, on the floor cross-legged because I didn’t want to miss it,” she said.

“It was electric from there it’s just got bigger and better.”

Ms Horn said over the years more tribute artists have joined and there are now sister festivals in other countries showcasing the Elvis Presley talent.

She said when she is judging she is looking for “the quality to provide for the fans, like Elvis did.”

Ms Horn said she was not asking for Elvis lookalikes but wanted to see them “perform like Elvis – but they’re all unique in their own little way”.

“We’re all under the umbrella of The King. We’re all doing it for Elvis Presley,” she said.

“[Elvis is] my best friend and he never even knew it. Honestly, seven years of age I’ve been a fan, I’m 56 now.”

Lisa Ponsford, 51 and her partner met when he was competing in an Elvis competition.

“It’s just a big community,” she said.