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Elvis never played this Welsh town
Porthcawl is a former vacation hotspot for Welsh coal miners, and it is a slightly odd place to celebrate Elvis Presley. He never performed there, or really anywhere outside the US other than a few stops in Canada. The crowds come from around the world and basically double the town's population.
The festival has been going for more than two decades. People in the working-class town say they identify with Elvis' own humble beginnings.
The flashy fashion is a big plus, with attendees decked out in jumpsuits and sequins. Tribute artists warm up backstage, and the Porthcawl Male Voice Choir is one of the acts that takes part every year. There is even a separate costume contest just for dogs, hound dogs in this case.
Why did Elvis never tour overseas?
Elvis's only concerts outside the US were in Canada in 1957. He spent 1958 to 1960 in West Germany with the Army, but he gave no public performances there. Fans overseas knew him through records and films. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, never booked an international tour.
How did Elvis's jumpsuits get so flashy?
Designer Bill Belew made Elvis's first jumpsuit around 1970. Elvis's stage act included karate-style moves, and flared legs and stretch fabric gave him room to perform them. Studs, sequins, and high collars were added over the following years. The 1973 concert Aloha from Hawaii was broadcast by satellite to audiences in many countries.
Why did Porthcawl become a miners' holiday spot?
Porthcawl began as a coal port: a tramway built in the 1820s carried coal from inland valleys to its harbor. Railways later linked the mining valleys to the coast, which put Porthcawl within a short ride of miners' families. Sandy beaches and a seafront fairground built up around those visitors. Coney Beach, the fairground, dates to the early twentieth century.
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