Elvis Gospel Service

Come and celebrate the gospel music beloved by Elvis on Sunday morning in the park. The Elvis Gospel Service is a well-loved feature of the Festival program. The special interdenominational service pays tribute to Elvis’s first love, gospel music, and celebrates Elvis’s music through song and prayer.

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Parkes Elvis Festival Gospel Service

About this event

Child FriendlyOutdoor EventAccessible Event

Join representatives from local churches and choirs and featuring special guest appearance by feature artist Taylor Rodriguez. The Gospel Service will also feature Mark Andrew, Dean Vegas, Gavin Chatelier, James Whalan, Gabriel Phoenix, and for the first time, introducing Megan Woods as they celebrate Elvis’ music in this interdenominational service. through song and prayer.

The Festival would like to welcome back Rev. Tom Stuart who started the Elvis Gospel Service in 2002 and Ian Harris who was the first Elvis Tribute Artist to ever perform at the service.

Official proceedings will start at 9am on the Main Stage and conclude at 10.30am. Be sure to arrive early to secure a seat or bring along your own chair to sit in the designated area. It is recommended you also bring along a hat, a water bottle and hand fan. Refreshments will be available from the nearby Festival Markets.

The Elvis Gospel Service is proudly presented by Parkes Ministers’ Association. A special offering will be collected, and all funds raised will go towards Kairos Ministry, an organisation that provides supports throughout prisons.

 

Performers

Taylor Rodriguez

Taylor hails from Lynchburg, Virginia was named The 2019 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion by Elvis Presley Enterprises(EPE). Taylor rocked the stage in 2022 and will be returning as the Festival's Feature Artist in 2024.

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Megan Woods

Joining Elvis Festival for the first time, Megan will be part of the Elvis Gospel Service taking place on Sunday 14 January. Hailing from New Zealand and now a prominent figure in the Australian country music scene since 2013, Megan Woods is making waves with her heartfelt country sound. Bursting onto the scene in May...

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Mark Andrew

Mark Andrew Tabone was born in Melbourne in 1966 and spent most of his childhood in Europe. It was there his interest in performing arts developed from an early age, acting, singing and playing character roles to large audiences. On his return to Australia in 1983, he appeared on the nine networks talent show “New Faces” which opened a lot of doors. In 1992 he formed a Rock n’ Roll band “Blue Suede Dudes”, playing many Melbourne venues and also supporting Chubby Checker on his Australian Tour. In 1995 he featured as Buddy Holly in a Legends Revival Concert at Dallas Brooks Hall. He then created his own corporate “Dead- Set Legends” show performing as Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Jim Morrison and Elvis. “Elvis Leaves His Mark” was launched in 1998 and is now one of the best Tribute shows worldwide with Mark finishing in the top 5 in the world in Memphis in 2002. In Recent times Mark was invited to perform his Elvis Tribute for Joe Esposito, Elvis’ own Road manager and best Man at his wedding, Joe’s comments were “Mark You did an absolute fantastic tribute to Elvis and it brought back so many memories, You sang from the heart just like Elvis did” Mark, a trained actor has an incredible versatile talent to capture each character and later added Austin Powers, Dean Martin & Tom Jones to his Legend show and also makes a true to life Danny Zuco, performing in his own Grease Tribute show. In recent years, Mark has been invited 4 years in a row to headline “The Parkes Elvis Festival” performing various versions of his “Elvis Leaves His Mark” show, with this year having sold out 4 consecutive shows with standing ovations.

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Dean Vegas

Dean is a renowned entertainer who has toured the world performing in Dubai, China, Ecuador, Bali, Sweden, Indonesia, Lebanon, Canada, Memphis, London, Las Vegas, New Zealand, Norfolk Island and in clubs and Casinos across Australia. He sang his first rendition of an Elvis song at his school play ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ he sang ‘Rubberneckin’ which he has since added to his repertoire of Elvis songs. Dean travels the world wowing audiences with his ‘Tribute to Elvis’ spectacular. Throughout this energised Vegas style show, audiences not only share the hits from Elvis’ amazing career, but experience the passion and warming personality of a truly great performer. Dean’s shows offer a dynamic and powerful performance that will leave you breathless and wanting more.

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Gavin Chatelier

Gavin Chatelier has been a full time singer, guitarist, entertainer for 25 yrs, with 20 CDs &150 variety shows each year. With Elvis Gospel music being his favourite genre, he has always said at his shows, ” You cannot separate Elvis & Gospel Music.” His sound is timeless and evergreen with this popular Tribute to Elvis’ Gospel and inspirational Songs show drawing full house audiences. It will leave you with unforgettable memories and is sure to have you returning again and again.

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James Whalan

James Whalan is a local music teacher and pastor in Forbes, NSW. He has been performing in the local area for 15 years from his early days at the local Catholic high school to recently with the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society.  Most his time is spent in Forbes teaching a wide range of musical instruments as well as ministering to the members of the Uniting Church.

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Gabe Phoenix

Gabe Phoenix is an Award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist, whose gold star performances have earned him both local and international acclaim. More recently he was awarded Runner Up at Parkes Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest 2019, going on to Win First Place in the Elvis Pro Gospel Division at Lake George, New York - then the second largest Elvis festival in the World!

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Date and time

  • Sunday, 14th Jan 09:00am (1 Hour and 30 minutes)

Venue

Cooke Park Main Stage
Welcome Street & Cecile Street, Parkes, NSW, Australia0268626000Visit Website

Organiser

Parkes Elvis Festival