Festival organizers to put the Elvis

Festival organizers to put the Elvis in the 'Elvis Festival'

2/13/2009 6:48:49 AM
Daily Journal

By Carlie Kollath
Daily Journal

TUPELO - Expect to see more of the King of Rock n' Roll at this year's Tupelo Elvis Festival, an event official said at the festival's formal kickoff Thursday night.

John Avila, this year's festival co-chairman, said the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association is focusing on Elvis more this year since Tupelo is his birthplace. The association, which produces the festival, has discussed in past years whether the event is a music festival or a festival about Elvis.

"The Elvis venue is going to be the growing force for us," said Avila, who chairs the festival this year with his wife, Sherry, and DTMSA treasurer Keith Henley.

Avila said the Elvis Presley Enterprises-sanctioned tribute artist contest "allows us to really put the Elvis in the Elvis Festival. We anticipate being able to do more with it than ever before."

Yet, DTMSA events coordinator Megan Daniel said the festival still will have a lineup of nationally recognized musicians, which will help draw a diverse group of people. She said the headliners will be announced within a month. The festival will be held June 5-7 downtown Tupelo.

Audience growth is a key theme this year, especially when it comes to attracting different age groups, said DTMSA Executive Director Debbie Brangenberg. It's also reflected in this year's festival image, which was unveiled at the kickoff.

The image, which is used on posters and all marketing materials, was designed by Pontotoc native Josh Mabus, a co-founder of the Mabus Birch Agency in Tupelo. It celebrates the anniversary of Presley's 1968 Comeback Special, a taped television special that jump-started the second half of his career.

Mabus opted do to a more modern graphic-based poster, instead of a traditional hand-drawn poster, in hopes that it would appeal to a younger generation.

In the poster, Mabus incorporated the red "Elvis" sign from the show into the poster's lettering. He also chose to use the picture of Presley in a black leather outfit.

"It's my favorite," he said. "It identifies the '68 Comeback Special. It's so iconic."

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