King set to Kruise once again

Elvis Presley, or at least a half dozen or so reincarnations of the late hip-swinging American icon, will be rockin’ Linwood June 20.

For a second year, Kruisin’ with the King – the local Elvis Tribute and classic car show – will take place at the Linwood Recreation Complex.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun and it will be a bit of a mix too,” said Crosshill’s Herb Neher, one of the event organizers and performers.

“We hope it takes off again,” he added, noting that last year’s debut show proved a great success despite the challenges posed by miserable weather and a number of competing events in the K-W area.

Instead of hosting the event in August, organizers thought it would be beneficial to bump the show up to June, a time when local residents are raring to celebrate the arrival of the summer festival season. Organizers of the event, which is sponsored by the Linwood Rod & Gun Club, the Linwood Lions and the Linwood firefighters, are also hoping to capitalize on the fact many local residents won’t have yet gone on vacation.

Last year, hundreds of people attended the show – so many that the committee is looking to make the event an annual gig.
Though planned as an outdoor event, Kruisin’ with The King was moved indoors as a result of inclement weather. But that did little to ward off spectators. This time around, however, Neher and company are hoping for some cooperation from Mother Nature.

“We’re praying for good weather because, really, it’s meant to be outdoors,” he said of the rain-or-shine event.

The concert will feature the performances of seven Elvis tribute artists hailing from all over southern Ontario – from Crosshill to Hamilton – and even a few performances in between sets of Roy Orbison and Barbara Streisand favourites.

Each performer will play a 20 minute set between 3 and 6 p.m., and then a second (20 minute) set between 6 and 9 p.m. Neher noted that the format will allow spectators more than one opportunity to see their favourite artist. As for the sets, 20 minutes seem to be just about right.

“You can get an audience going between six and seven songs.”

The event will also feature a focus on costumes. Last year’s offering saw the majority of performers dressing like the Las Vegas Elvis of his later career. Instead of having a repeat of that this year, Neher said organizers plan on having each performer wear outfits from two different eras, attempting to cover every period in his career. This way fans will get a chance to see the rock ‘n’ roll icon in all his personae.

Funded by the sponsoring organizations and by local businesses, the non-profit event will collect donations and steer profits from food and beverage sales towards community betterment projects.

Also on tap is a raffle of summer sausages and T-shirts.  For more information, call 519-698-2019 or 519-698-2553.