Carol Hunter

The theme  was “Elvis Lives”  and judging by the record crowds converging in  Collingwood, Ontario for the 11th annual Collingwood Elvis Festival, he does indeed!  Over the years, the Collingwood Elvis Festival has grown from  a small event, attracting mostly ETA’s and fans in the general vicinity, to become internationally known as the largest Elvis Festival in the world – this year, for example, attracting  performers from all over Canada and the USA,  Australia, Austria, and the UK, with crowds estimated at more than 70,000!  As always, it was impossible to see and do everything, and it’s nearly as difficult to condense the entire experience and hundreds of photographs, so I’ve focused on the main Festival events, some highlights, and as many pics as possible on this and following pages.

Collingwood’s  Festival starts mid-week with a golf tournament, karaoke fun, and more, but the official kickoff is always the Friday Street Party which runs from mid-afternoon to almost midnight with close to 150 ETA’s showcasing their talents. By then, the memorabilia and food vendors have set up shop and the fans have arrived in droves.  In fact, if  you’re not there  by 11 am on Friday,  you’ve already lost the best places to sit and stand!    By  6 pm this year, the main street  was a virtual sea of faces stretching back as far as the eye could see - one of the largest crowds ever!   Once again, Paco Danesi and the Casino Brothers Band with vocalists Daphne Moens and Shenna Turcotte, were the awesome  “Collingwood Festival Band” for the entire weekend.  As  you can imagine, there were many memorable performances during the  8-hour showcase (with ETA’s ranging in age from 5 to 64), but some highlights for me were Martin Fox’s  Danny Boy, Meg Morrow’s   Green Green Grass of Home, Lance Dobinson and Ray Guillemette singing, respectively, O Canada and The Star-Spangled Banner, and Dean Vegas  having so much fun taking his traditional videos of the audience.   There’s always lots of fun and laughter behind the stage area, too.  It’s the equivalent of a huge family reunion as fans meet up with friends and ETA’s they haven’t seen in a while, and welcome to the fold the new fans and ETA’s, such as New York’s Bill McGrath,  arriving for their first Collingwood experience.  Of course, there are the occasional tales of lost luggage (David Muggeridge had to  borrow a jumpsuit) and delayed plane flights (with Ryan Pelton  and Jimmy King Kai arriving during the very last minutes of the street party and performing “as is” – not that the delighted audience minded at all).

Saturday morning’s classic car and ETA parade again saw the downtown sidewalks teeming with thousands of fans.  Later, fans could travel from venue to venue to see their favourite ETA’s performing (Anthony Von, Roy LeBlanc, Robin Kelly,  Irv Cass, Gino Monopoli, to name only a few!), or, if they wished, they could venture to the packed outdoor stage area to watch over 100  ETA’s during the professional, non-professional, and youth contest eliminations.  

On Saturday also, enthusiastic fans attended the first of the Festival’s three awesome “arena “ shows.  This matinee concert was produced by Paco Danesi  and featured the talents of Ray Guillemette, Gino Monopoli, and Ryan Pelton  as they saluted the ‘68 Comeback TV Special.  Combining multi-media segments and outstanding live performances which re-created memorable scenes from the TV special, and ending with a rousing finale of “A Little Less Conversation” (definitely a sight to see with Ryan, Gino, and Ray on stage together!) this show generated cheers and ovations throughout.

Saturday night’s  main Festival event  brought fans by the thousands to see the spectacular world-class Elvis Lives concert featuring internationally renowned headliners Shawn Klush and Ryan Pelton, special guest Dean Vegas, and returning champs David Lee and Shon Carroll.   

Headliner Ryan Pelton, from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he stars in Legends in Concert,  had  the crowd in the palm of his hand within seconds.  With his exceptionally handsome  “Elvis” look, his charisma,  and his ability to wear each and every  Elvis costume with style and flair (very few can come close to Ryan in the black leather or white “If I Can Dream” suit, let me tell you!),  Ryan gave a stellar vocal  performance, delivering a variety of songs from  Elvis’ 50's and 60's eras,  including Shake Rattle and Roll, Peace in the Valley, Baby Let’s Play House, Return to Sender,  Mama Liked the Roses, and If I Can Dream.  And, of course, the cheering fans (many of whom had traveled from Ottawa and eastern Ontario where Ryan has a large Canadian fan base)  went absolutely wild taking photos and  rushing the stage when Ryan threw teddy bears out into the audience -- almost causing a riot!  

In his first Collingwood appearance, Headliner Shawn Klush, from Pennsylvania, known as “Closest to the King” for good reason, had many in the audience  feeling as if they were actually watching Elvis Presley in concert.  With his  uncanny resemblance to the ‘70's Elvis, his rare ability to “become” Elvis on stage, and his powerful vocals (let alone looking like the absolute spitting image of Elvis on the huge side screens as he performed), Shawn epitomizes the “concert years” and is recognized throughout North America and beyond, by fans and fellow ETA’s alike, for his exceptional portrayal of Elvis Presley.  Wearing the Snowflake and Cisco Kid jumpsuits during his segments,  Shawn  had fans clamoring for scarves, kisses, and photos  as he sang selections from the ‘70's such as  My Way, The Wonder of You, My Boy, Kentucky Rain, How Great Thou Art, American Trilogy,  and Viva Las Vegas, earning standing ovations throughout.  Many  life-long Elvis fans and professional  ETA’s who were in the audience and who, like me, have also seen the real Elvis in concert,  told me afterwards they had  “goose bumps” throughout his entire performance.  Shawn, who also has a large fan base in Ontario, told me  that he was glad to be back in Canada,  and to catch up with so many of his Canadian fans who had  traveled (some from as far as Alberta)  to see him again.

Wearing his striking Gypsy suit, popular 2004 Professional Concert Years champ, Alabama’s David Lee,  delighted the crowd with songs such as Steamroller Blues, Fever, and his powerful versions of Hurt and Unchained Melody.  Shon Carroll, aka “The Canadian Flash,” and the 2004 Professional Early Years champ, demonstrated his charisma and intricate “moves” as he delivered his signature songs which included Money Honey, Ready Teddy, and Rip it Up!   Special guest, Australia’s Dean Vegas,  Collingwood’s “goodwill ambassador” with his warm smile and gracious charm, is also a  past Grand Champ, and a deserving recipient of the “Spirit of Elvis” award.   As always, Dean received an enthusiastic welcome as he stepped on stage to entertain the audience with his renditions of Always on My Mind,  Heartbreak Hotel and All Shook Up.  This was a spectacular concert from start to finish and the fans are still raving about how good it was!    Elvis WAS definitely in the building!  Thanks to all the ETA’s,  Paco Danesi, the band and vocalists, and  those involved behind the scenes.  And from Shawn Klush to the enthusiastic audience:  “It was great to be so well received in Collingwood - you are true fans!”

Sunday morning’s gospel service drew a large crowd of  “early birds” to the downtown area to hear moving  performances by co-ordinator Jim Anderson, Marcus Wells and Joshua Bravener, as did the  youth talent showcase, featuring talented and very energetic next-generation  ETA’s (ages 5-14),  including Matthew Lawrence,   Zachary Peddie, Brenen and Brycen Katolinsky, Spencer Bristow, Alex Mugford, and Jackson Begley.

Sunday’s First Annual Inspirational Elvis Contest, was another spectacular Festival matinee event, featuring truly inspirational performances by the likes of host Shawn Klush, and contestants David Muggeridge, Mike Bravener, Marcus Wells, Dean Vegas,  John Loos, Ray Guillemette,  Robin Kelly, Danny Boy Squire, Garyelvis Britt, Roy LeBlanc and Jim Anderson.   Words really cannot convey how very moving and special this new event was and how much I wished Elvis were there himself to see just a part of the amazing legacy he has left.  I couldn’t have been prouder of all the ETA’s who performed and who sang from the depths of their souls!   If you missed this event, be sure to catch it next year.  Congratulations to Ray Guillemette, the Collingwood Invitational Inspirational Elvis Champion for 2005.

Meanwhile, at the outdoor stage area,  the  contest semi-finals were continuing, and at the end of the day those ETA’s proceeding to the  finals were announced. The contest grand finals, held Sunday night to a packed house in the arena,  prompted many comments such as “Man, I wouldn’t want to be a judge.”  This was a most entertaining, “suspenseful” evening hosted by MC extraordinaire,  Roy LeBlanc. The competition was extremely tight, especially in the Professional Concert Years division, with all the contestants turning  in absolutely stellar performances, and the UK’s Roy Evans eventually emerging as the champ.  And who could forget  Ben Klein’s heartfelt acceptance speech as winner of the Professional  Early Years division, which left not a dry eye in the house!  Congratulations to contest winners Roy Evans, Ben Klein, David Stewart, Glenn Aitchison, Brenen Katolinsky, Joshua Bravener, and to the  finalists in each division:   Irv Cass, Paul Ross, John Loos, Jimmie King Kai - Pete Paquette, Mike Bravener, Eddie Prince, Bill McGrath - David Muggeridge, John Welsh, Mike Calamusa, Thor Bonfig - Lance Dobinson, James Begley, Adam Scott, Drew Guerra - Matthew Lawrence, Brycen Katolinsky - Aaron Skilton, and Jackson Begley (full details on the Collingwood Festival website).Thanks also to returning 2004 champs David Lee, Shon Carroll, Pete Paquette,  Marcus Wells,  Steven Pelleriti for showing us why they won last year!.

This year’s huge  final farewell party was held at Montana’s after the official Festival events had ended.  Hosted by Tim E, with many other ETA’s giving informal performances, this was the perfect opportunity for fans and ETA’s to recap the weekend, and say their goodbyes before leaving for home.  

And, of course,  no account of the Collingwood Festival would be complete without mentioning the after-hours fun throughout the weekend at Tim Horton’s Coffee Shop!  Over the years, word has spread  – and even visitors from the UK had heard about Tim’s.   Kudos to Joe Zambri, and  the many ETA’s who joined him over the weekend to raise even more funds for the Tim Horton Children’s Fund....Dean Vegas, Paul Ross, Mike Gilbo, Rick Duin, Robert Pooran,  Jeff Bodner, Bruce Herron, Doug MacKenzie, Jimmy King Kai...and many, many more.  Thanks for the memories, the smiles and the laughter too!

John Loos surrounded by fans

New York’s Jimmy King Kai

GaryElvis Britt from Florida

Pete Paquette and sister Melissa

The UK’s Roy Evans pro concert years winner

Ray Guillemette  and friends

COLLINGWOOD  ELVIS  FESTIVAL 2005

World Class Headliner, Shawn Klush

Irv Cass, looking mighty fine!

Little Elvis fan, Robin, with big teddy bear!

Love For Elvis Fan Club with Ray Guillemette

Australia’s Dean Vegas on stage taking videos of the audience

One first-timer  to the Collingwood Festival told me it was the most “embracing” Elvis event he’d ever been to.   As you can see from the pics, there is a special relationship between ETA’s and fans in Collingwood.  At the end of the day,  we are “family” and Collingwood is our annual reunion.   Thanks to all the ETA’s and all the fans who help to keep Elvis’ memory alive year after year.  Thanks to Festival Chairperson, Peter Dunbar,  Festival office manager, Rosemarie Garrity, to Karen Cubitt and Marian Lewis, and to all the committee members and volunteers for producing  one of the biggest Collingwood Festival weekends ever.

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