Elvis Fans “All Shook Up” As Blue Moon Festival Returns To Merritt This Week

Hot on the heels of another sold out and successful Bass Coast Festival, organizers of the 9th Canadian Blue Moon Elvis Festival are looking forward to bringing many of the finest Elvis Presley Tribute Artists (ETA) to the Nicola Valley this weekend at the Merritt Rodeo Grounds.

This year marks the second straight year the festival will be in Merritt and one performer couldn’t be more thrilled.

DJ Dodge, the alter ego of Darryl Dudek of Kelowna told Q101 news he was excited to here that the Canadian Blue Moon Festival was returning to Merritt. He said the reception he and the other ETA ‘s received from the fans in attendance was tremendous.

“I know most of the guys coming back to Merritt are pumped to perform for the fans again,” said Dodge. “The location (Merritt Rodeo Grounds) is a great venue. It’s a very intimate setting and as an Elvis Tribute Artist and knowing how much Elvis loved  to connect with his fans on the intimate level, it will bring out the best in every performer.”

Thirteen of the best Elvis Tribute Artists from across Canada will dust off their blue suede shoes and shake, rattle and roll into Merritt including Jeff Bodner, Christopher Blaine, Ron Peacey and Bruno Nesci who will once again headline Saturday night’s performance.

“It’s a testament to the music of the King, that’s what brings the fan out to events like this,” added Nesci, who is the only Canadian Elvis Tribute Artist to place in the Top 10 at the Ultimate Elvis Contest in Memphis Tennessee for four consecutive years.  “It’s been almost been fifty years since Elvis passed away but his legend lives on and you see it in every crowd and as a performer, there is nothing more satisfying than to hear the audience sing along with you.”

Nesci added that he has no doubt that the music of Elvis will live on as he is seeing more young people at the festivals in recent years.

“I have seen children as young as six-years-old coming out to our shows and having just as good a time as those that grew up during the fifties and sixties during Elvis’s heyday. “he noted. “Wholesome entertainment the family can enjoy, that’s what the Canadian Bluemoon Festival is all about.”

The festival begins Friday with headliners Matt Cage and Eli Williams, followed by Bruno Nesci’s award winning show on Saturday. As a special treat, Shania Twain Tribute Artist “Shania Totally Twain” will before under the Nicola Valley skies on Sunday afternoon.

The festival is also pleased to welcome Elvis former tour manager Charles Stone to the event. Stone who joined Presley and Colonel Tom Parker in the mid-seventies as his tour manager until Elvis death in 1977. Stone will take festival goers on a trip down memory land with stories and insights of his years with the King.

Tickets or the 9th Canadian Blue Moon Festival are still available at Black’s Pharmacy on Quilchena Ave. or at the Visitor Centre in Merritt or online at www.thecdnbluemoon.ca.