Viva Las Vegas bills itself as the biggest rockabilly weekender in the world, but it’s more than that. Apart from anything else it runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
And, musically, it runs the gamut from 50s rock’n’roll, hillbilly, alt. country, Americana, blues, swing, surf and every other form of roots music you can imagine. Did I mention the classic cars (hundreds of them), the 50s costumes and the Saturday night Princess Margaret lookalikes in their white-gloved finery, as well as the vendors and the joyful atmosphere? Well, I have now.
No wonder 20,000 plus-people make the annual pilgrimage to the Nevada desert from the UK, Australia, most of Europe, and some countries you’ve never heard of, to hear the biggest names in the field, and up-and-comers, too. Not to mention theatre shows, burlesque, workshops, lectures, tattooists, dance contests and lessons, DJs, record hops, pool parties and more.