Tribute act This Is Elvis brings an immersive journey through the music of Elvis Presley, performed by the Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist.
Ben Portsmouth brings his This Is Elvis show to York Barbican on Friday 2 October, starting at 7:30pm. He's backed by the Taking Care of Elvis Band, and the set is built around the different eras of Elvis Presley's career, from the early rockabilly days to the later Vegas years.
There's a bit of a story to Portsmouth that sets him apart from your usual tribute act. In 2012, he was crowned the 'Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist' by Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis, and he was the first European to ever get the title. After that, he headlined an Elvis week on the Late Show with David Letterman. He's played on the same Vegas stage that Presley once did, and he's performed in London's West End, so he's worked his way through some of the same rooms and cities as the man he's paying tribute to.
That's where the show gets its shape. This Is Elvis isn't just a run of the hits; it's a journey through the different stages of Presley's career. It starts with the early rockabilly roots, the raw sound of the fifties, and works its way through to the dazzling Vegas years, the big costumes and the full band. It's a chronological look at how the music changed over the decades, rather than a random mix of songs.
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He's not on his own, either. He performs with the Taking Care of Elvis Band, and together they've played sell-out shows in more than 20 countries. People who've seen him describe the experience as feeling like a live concert with the King himself. The show is at York Barbican on Friday 2 October, with the music starting at 7:30pm.
