Elvis tribute acts in the UK: the complete guide

Elvis Presley never played a concert in the UK. His only time on British soil was a brief refuelling stop at Prestwick Airport in Scotland in 1960, on his way home from army service in Germany. So for British fans, tribute artists have always been the closest thing to seeing the King live. Tribify currently lists 11 Elvis tributes.

The award winners

The Elvis estate runs its own talent contest. Elvis Presley Enterprises' Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest judges performers on how close they get to Elvis musically, not just on the look, and winning it is the biggest title in the business.

British singer Ben Portsmouth won it, and was reported as the first European to take the title. He now tours UK theatres with his show This Is Elvis.

Which Elvis do you want?

Elvis had three or four careers in one, and tribute shows usually pick a lane:

• The 1950s rocker: Sun Records, "Hound Dog", the hips that scandalised America.
• The '68 Comeback Special: black leather, a small stage and a raw, stripped-back sound.
• Vegas Elvis: the jumpsuits, the big band and "Suspicious Minds" building to a finale.

Many theatre shows move through all three with costume changes. If one era is your favourite, check the act's page before you book.

The Elvis weekend: Porthcawl

Every September, the Welsh seaside town of Porthcawl hosts the Porthcawl Elvis Festival, which started around 2004 to raise money to save the town's Grand Pavilion theatre. It now draws around 40,000 people a year and claims to be the biggest Elvis festival in the world, with a tribute artist competition, fancy dress and Elvises all over town. It's the best place in Britain to see a lot of Elvises at once.

What to look for

• The voice. The baritone is easy to fake for a verse and very hard to sustain for two hours. Listen to the ballads.
• A live band. The best shows have a full band and backing singers, as Elvis did in Vegas.
• Humour. Elvis was funny on stage. The great tribute artists capture the charm as well as the voice.

Been to one? Rate it

If you've seen any of these acts, rate the show. Ratings come only from fans.