Last year’s Elvis Ain’t Dead fest brought an Elvis Presley “death” anniversary tribute to multiple venues — there was Elvis trivia at Upper Deck, peanut butter-and-banana sammies at Rec Room, an Elvis-inspired sit-down meal at Spero, and an Elvis cover band concert at Local 616. It was a ball, but organizer Todd Anderson of Charlietown Prints decided to forego the multi-venue format while sticking with the multi-faceted one this time around.

The second-annual event — the whole shabang — takes place on Fri. Aug. 18 at the Pour House. Here’s what’s in the cards for the night, that grieves not for the “death” of Elvis, because we all know he’s alive in Argentina, right? That’s why this is the Elvis Ain’t Dead Fest, after all.

Firstly, you’re encouraged to come in costume — dress as a version of Elvis or Priscilla Presley, or even one of Elvis’ leading ladies/mistresses, what have you. Think Anne Margaret/Viva Las Vegas.

Sponsored again by PBR, the show will be MC’d by comedian Jessica Mickey. Five bands — Dante’s Jumpsuit, Madam Adam, Mike Martin & the Beautiful Mess, ’17 Comeback Special, and Horror Business — will crank out odes to Elvis all night in what Anderson’s calling Battle of the Elvi, which will be judged by the Pour House’s Kimberly Huey, Jessica Wilson, and Alex Harris; Recovery Room bartender and Elvis enthusiast Mark Hudgins; and local PBR rep Jillian Cunningham. DJ KY will be on deck all night as well.

Sets will be sandwiched with other battles: a Pelvis Off (do your best pelvis-shaking to the tune of “Hound Dog”), an Elvis Imposter Costume Contest, and an Elvis Girlfriend Imposter contest.

Food — you knew this was coming. It wouldn’t be an Elvis party without an homage to the king’s appetite. The Spero and the Lot will cook up a buffet of eats inspired by the Elvis cookbook, Are You Hungry Tonight? In that very book is a recipe for Elvis and Priscilla’s wedding cake, which will be recreated — yes, you’re reading this correctly — by Brown’s Court Bakery. That in and of itself is worth the cover, y’all.

Out back, vintage vendors Runaround Sue Vintage (full disclosure — that’s moi), Grease Kelly Vintage, Third Eye Vintage, and Tuff Stuff Vintage will be set up to cater to your retro fashion needs. And don’t even worry about doing your hair beforehand, guys and gals, since Urban Nirvana’s Liza Hartz and Harlie Smith will be on hand for live pompadour stylings.

There’s more — the Elvis “dead” on a toilet photo booth is back. Photographer Bad Jon will snap shots of you and the nearest Elvis impersonator, so you can have something kinda gross and definitely unique to remember the evening by.

The Pour House doors open at 8 p.m., so come early and shop, get your hair Elvised, and grab some grub before the music kicks off at 9 p.m. Cover charge is $15, which doesn’t include the meal next door from the Lot, which you can sink your teeth into from 7 until 10 p.m. 

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