[caption id="attachment_37960" align="alignright" width="250"] BIG ATTRACTION: Elvis Blue will be appearing along with acts including the Parlotones and Mango Groove[/caption]
FANS have seen him grow from being an Idols winner to a superstar in his own right – and Elvis Blue will be back on the Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees stage this weekend, just one of a host of top acts to feature there.
More than 350 specialist stalls will also be among the big drawcards at the 13th festival.
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom is the main speaker at the official opening tonight.
Award-winning acts include the Parlotones, Mango Groove and Emo Adams while other artists to be seen live include 2014 Ghoema award-winners Karlien van Jaarsveld, Andriette Norman, Bobby van Jaarsveld and Jay.
The Wildsfees also features burlesque for the first time with the Tipsy Gypsy Art Bar stage show for those who like their entertainment "a little saucy", according to the organisers.
Elvis Blue has returned to his roots, releasing a series of chart-topping Afrikaans numbers, starting with Rede om te glo.
This was after releasing his first Afrikaans album under the name Jan Hoogendyk – his real name.
"The album did really well. It won an ATKV Lier award," he says.
His second Afrikaans album, Ontskemer also under the name Jan Hoogendyk, was nominated for a 2010 Sama award.
The artist made his name as Elvis Blue when he won the M-Net Idols competition in 2010.
Elvis Blue will be sharing the limelight with other South African superstars BlackByrd, Dewald Wasserfall along with Mango Groove at the festival on Sunday.
The show will be a mix of his English and Afrikaans hits, which include favourites from his debut album Elvis Blue, which reached gold status within 29 days of release.
The album went platinum in late 2011 – with sales in excess of 40000 units.
The success of Elvis Blue over the past few years enabled him to invest in something very near and dear to his heart – the Elvis Blue Music Academy.
It was started by the musician to teach underprivileged children the joy of music.
The organisation provides instruments and instruction in a safe, warm environment.
"Music has the ability to heal," Elvis says.
"This venture is living proof of that."
The academy operates in George and is launching in Alexandra in Gauteng in the near future.
Other festival highlights include discovering the fine art of rooibos tea drinking at the Carmién Tea stall, extreme motorcycling by national champion Brent Le Riche tomorrow and Saturday, and a Jukebox Show.
You can also make friends with an alpaca and discover why their wool is called "fibre of the gods".
Organisers have also said visitors should come hungry as there are tasty snacks and meals at the gourmet stalls from early till late in the Coca-Cola Food Court.
Meanwhile, you can also tame your thirst in the Windhoek Kuiergat Beer Tent – for over-18s only.
There's also all-day music in the Songololo Stretch and you can let your kids go wild in the Stumpies Kidz Square.
The annual fest – which has seen impressive growth year on year – runs from tomorrow until Sunday.
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