Viva Las Vegas

Viva Las Vegas #19 in 2016 was the usual kaleidoscope of colour, music, style and action we have come to expect from this biggest and best show on the planet for 1950s rock 'n' roll and related kustom culture. It took place from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th April at the Orleans Hotel, Casino and massive car park, in Las Vegas, Nevada...

- Paul Waring

This event, put together by Brit Tom Ingram, achieves it’s 20th year in April 2017, and already the Orleans Hotel is fully booked for it, though other hotels are on hand to accommodate everyone else who wants to attend - and the line-up of bands has not even been published as I write this! In 2016 just over 80 bands and performers played over the multiple stages and customers know that every year there will be a hand-picked selection of top-flight acts.

This year we had, as headliners from the 1950s, Jack Scott, The Medallions, Norman Fox & The Rob Roys, Bobby Hendricks, Don Woody, Sleepy LaBeef, Johnny Knight, Billy Harlan and early 1960s surfer Dick Dale. The bulk of the schedule comprised a host of bands from more recent times, who do a good job playing that good old rock ‘n’ roll – including Brian Setzer from The Stray Cats, Gizzelle, Phat Cat Swinger, Jackson Sloane & The Rhythm-tones, Jai Milano, Lil Mo & The Dynaflos, The Starjays, Restless, The Jets and many more. Many of these may not be house-hold names, but on the rockin’ scene they have substantial followings. And their talents and skills greatly outweigh those of many of today’s mainstream artists, who simply have larger budgets for promotion.