(click here for a short soundbite from Lucia Randle, the artist who created this year's official Elvis Festival poster. )
ELVIS LIVES! -- Always a popular festival - and a tribute to the King of Rock N' Roll born here in the "biggest little town in the south" - the Elvis Festival kicks-off each year with the release of the official artwork. This year's version is by artist Lucia Randle. Here's the official news release from the Downtown Tupelo Association (aka "The Elvis Presley Festival Office"):
RELEASE FROM DEBBIE BRANGENBERG
Executive Director
Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association
March 31, 2011
Producers of the 2011 Elvis Festival are excited to share the 2011 image for this year’s festival. The image was unveiled last night at a gala featuring local artist and friend of the festival, Lucia Randle.
Since the inception of the Elvis Festival in 1999, local artists have been chosen to design the artwork for two consecutive years. Lucia Randle was contracted for the 2011 & 2012 image and was very honored to be chosen.
When talking about the 2011 image, Randle said she had a hard time deciding which direction to go. During the unveiling ceremony, she stated “I bet I started over twenty times, but I really wanted it to be special. I kept coming back to this positive image of Elvis.” The fun, whimsical image features a smiling, laughing full face image of Elvis anchored on one side with a collage styled composite of the festival title and all the details to the left.
“You cannot look at this and not smile and laugh,” said Randle, “It shows humanness, life, and fun. Its whimsical, and I think the Elvis Festival represents all those things about Tupelo.”
The 2011 Tupelo Elvis Festival will be held June 2 – 5 in downtown Tupelo. Kicking off on Thursday, June 2nd at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway and wrapping up on Sunday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church with a Gospel Concert.
Featured tribute artists at the Lyric Theatre are all previous winners of the Preliminary Ultimate Tribute Artist (UETA) Contests in Tupelo and two are also the winners of the UETA Contest in Memphis. In addition, the competition will feature thirty-five of the best Elvis Tribute Artists competing. ETA’s are coming from all over the country as well as Canada and Australia. These events are all ticketed. For ticket prices go to the website or call the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association Office. The concerts and finals on Saturday night have already sold out.
The “All Elvis All the Time” venue on Broadway will feature food, fun and Elvis music all day long along with food and arts & crafts vendors. Children’s activities, the pet parade, a photo booth, and the replica of the Birthplace of Elvis Presley are just a few of the highlights.
On the Fairpark Stage we have a number of bands scheduled to perform. Friday night’s featured performers are Ty Herndon and Crossin’ Dixon. Others include Blackberry Smoke, Busted Screen Door, Ironwood Bluff and Jordyn Mallory. On Saturday, local bands will start at Noon followed by a great lineup in the evening with featured performers Spin Doctor and Jonathan Singelton & The Grove. Others for Saturday night include Jamie Davis & Soul Gravy, John Milstead, Hobo Hippie and Crashing Broadway.
Tickets for the Fairpark Stage are available on Ticket Master. The price is $15 a day or $25 combined if purchased prior to May 31st. For more details or information, visit the website at www.tupeloelvisfestival.com or call the Downtown Tupelo Main Street office at 662-841-6598.
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