rockabilly Archives

Read about: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday

Saturday….CAR SHOW DAY! Love Saturday because a big part of Viva for me, is the cars. I love classic cars and I love dreaming about owning my 56 Bel Air one day but until then I will take just drooling over the cars instead.

Vintage Car Viva las vegas rockabilly weekend car show 18 2015

It was a really great day, weather wise so my hubby and I ate and then hit up the shopping at the car show first. This was a good call going a bit early because it was not busy yet and we could do our shopping with ease without having to fight the crowds.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 Car Show Shopping for vintage style clothing.

I was like a kid in a candy store as I have not done any shopping up to this point yet and was really itching to spend money. One of my favorite pieces that I found but did not buy due to being way to expensive, was an “Ethel of Beverly Hills” Cardigan. I own one already and have a serious love and need to own more (see blog post). This one was beautiful.

Ethel of Beverly HIlls Vintage 1950s Cardigan

I did buy the following: 2 brooches. The poodle was vintage and the seahorse was new. I also added to my hair flowers collection with a cool fruit clip (from Viva Dulce Marina). Lastly my husband found the sweetest shirt with flamingos on it. We can now be that couple that matches when I wear my tiki flamingo dress to the next Toronto Vintage Society Tiki party.

Viva Rockabilly Weekender Shopping finds. Vintage brooches, tiki shirts and tropical hair flowers.

Shopping done, now it’s time for a wedding..from Elvis.

Vintage Car Viva las vegas rockabilly weekend car show 18 2015 featuring Elvis — Elvis Wedding

Now for the cars, all the glorious vintage cars. Here is a collection of some of the cars we saw.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 2015 Car Show-Vintage Cars on display.

While we were wandering around the car show I saw the coolest outfit of all time. This wonderful woman was dressed as Rockford Peach from the movie “A League of their Own“. I had to get a picture as this is one of my all-time favorite movies.

A league of their Own-Rockford Peach outfit seen at the car show at Viva Rockabilly Weekender

After the car show we checked out one of the headliner bands, 50s and 60s teen idol DION.

He was really good and sounded just amazing. Here is a video I took from his show. See for yourself.

Saturday Night-The Night when everyone breaks out their best outfits for the evening. I’m wearing my vintage Lurex dress that I got from a friend and I have to say that I felt just amazing in it! It was my fav dress of the whole entire weekend.

Vintage Lurex Dress as seen at Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender

See everyone brings their A Game on Saturday night as seen here by my stylish friends.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 vintage style / pinup style — Stylish Friends

I also finally ran into an Instagram follower as well, Wendi the Bakelite Bloodhound thanks to her eagle eyes. She was really nice and it was cool to finally chat in person. We also got a picture taken which my friend Bill the Photo bomber ruined or made better depending on how you look at it. lol!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 vintage lurex dresses

Saturday Nights bands were big ones..once again. First Up “The Stars Rockabilly Show” featuring: Joe Clay, Huelyn Duvall, Ray Campi and Big Sandy. Great show.

The Stars of Rockabilly Show Viva Rockabilly Weekend 2015 — The Stars of Rockabilly Show VL 18 2015

Marti Brom was up next and ever since I saw her a couple of years ago doing a Janis Martin Tribute I have been a big fan. Marti channels the sound of Patsy Cline and was really really good and I danced so much during her set and was pretty bummed when it was done.

Marti Brom Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender 18 2015 — Marti Brom

And last but not least the final band of the night at 2am was Levi Dexter & the Rockats. I had been eagerly awaiting Levi all weekend and was thrilled that I was still awake to catch their act.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 2015 Vintage Rockabilly Style. — It’s 2am and we are still awake!

Levi & the Rockats are considered early groundbreaking pioneers of neo-rockabilly originally formed in the UK in the 70s, banging back to USA, National TV appearances, and paving the way for all the other ‘Kat’ Bands (source). I have been a fan for a very long time and was just enthralled by the showmanship and music radiating off the stage. It was a great way to end the evening, even the dance floor was still packed.

Levi Dexter & Rockats at VIVA Rockabilly Weekender 18 2015 — Levi Dexter & Rockats

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 2015 packed dance floor — Packed Dance Floor

And that was Saturday Night. How was your Saturday night at Viva?

Further Reading:

Liz 🙂

(Note: Check out my Wednesday & Friday & Saturday & Sunday adventures)

It’s like Christmas Morning! VIVA is officially here, bring on the bands, shopping, clothes, the bowling, the burlesque etc. etc. etc. But first bring on my wristband for the weekend!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 wristband. — Viva Wristband

Since it was so cold in Toronto, I decided that we needed to hit up the pool. I mean seriously..look how nice and warm it looks outside…

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015

WRONG…oh so very very wrong. It was windy and cold and we lasted a half an hour. Booo Vegas! What’s up with that? So we decided to grab a drink in our room and get ready for a favorite event of mine that afternoon…”Sweetpea’s Hooch and Smooch“.

Sweet Pea's Hooch N' Smooch at Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. — Poster from the afternoon event-So fun!

What I love about Sweet Pea’s event is that she always seems to find the best bands, has fun games for VIVA attendees to meet each other and there is always a good turn out. It honestly for me is the perfect way to start my Viva weekend.

Of course I had to dress up for the afternoon (this is Viva after all). Vintage 1940s Blouse is from Cabaret Vintage, Belle Blossoms Hair Flower, Luxulite drink tab necklace, Vintage Bakelite bracelets and black pencil skirt acquired on my recent trip to Seattle from Diva Dollz.

The Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Rockabilly Style-Hair Flower, vintage 1940s blouse, pencil skirt, vintage bakelite

Okay back to my Sweet Pea Afternoon. The First band that we heard when we finally got there (and LOVED) was Shuggie B. Goode. Their sound was really fun and fantastic for dancing and when we walked in the band was singing a song about the Lindy Hop (win!).

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015-Bands Shuggie B. Goode — Shuggie B. Goode

Here is the most adorable couple dancing together (they danced all weekend long). I just adore her dress with matching running shoes…too cute!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Dancers-Older couple enjoying themselves. — Dancing is not reserved for the young.

Even Elvis likes to dance!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Dancers — Viva Las Vegas!

Now I’m going to probably mess up the order of who I listened to next but does not really matter. We also heard the killer sounds of TJ Mayes from Oklahoma, who kept the dance floor packed the whole set.

Then I finally got to hear the Roy Kay Trio. They have been on my bucket list for some time of bands I needed to hear live and boy did they deliver a great show. With their country/Hillbilly Bop Rockabilly sound I could have danced all night long to them.

Roy Kay Trio Viva Las Vegas 18 Rockabilly Weekender

Hunger has by this time consumed my thoughts so time for food..really healthy food (wink wink) before we change and attend the first official evening of VIVA.

Dinner of Champions-VIVA 18 Rockabilly Weekender — See mom there is green on my plate!

THURSDAY NIGHT-Tonight we travel around Europe to hear the best sounds of Rockabilly.

Up first, meeting up with my lovely friend Sabine who lives in Las Vegas and is a swing dancer like myself. Sabine always has the prettiest dresses and hair and is an amazing dancer as well.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 vintage 1940s dress and pinup swing dress — Evening Outfit Vintage 1940s Dress from Jack Lux in Toronto

Thursday Night Band # 1-The Hi-Tones from Russia. These guys were really really good and I now know why they played the main Ballroom because they sound is too huge to contain to one little room.

The Hi-Tones VLV 18 Rockabilly Weekender — The Hi-Tones

After the Hi-Tones we all zipped out of the Ballroom to the room down the hall that had the band “Li’l Mo and the Unholy 4″ on stage. We were greeted by a PACKED room (which got really really hot, really really fast). But Li’l Mo was so good and worth sweating to death over.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 - "Li'l Mo and the Unholy 4 — Packed Bienville Room

BUT I think maybe the heat was getting to at least ONE of my friends.

Li’l Mo done, time to head BACK to the Ballroom to continue our European Rockabilly tour with “The Go-Getters” from Sweden.They were incredible and the room was super packed for them as well.

During this band my husband decided to ask the lovely lady from earlier pictures in the striped dress to dance with him.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 - dancing at Viva

After the dance we found out that my hubby was the FIRST man OTHER than her husband that had asked her to dance in over 60 years. 60 years! Wow!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 dancers at Viva

After the Go-Getters we were BACK to the other room for Mike Bell & the Belltones from Finland (I’m getting dizzy from all the running back and forth lol!).

During their set Rockabilly legend “Huelyn Duvall” joined them on stage. Huelyn hit the Billboard charts with “3 Months to Kill”/”Little Boy Blue”. That was a pretty cool experience for fans of Rockabilly.

Huelyn Duvall VLV 18 - Viva Rockabilly Weekender. — Huelyn Duvall

We ended our evening BACK at in the Ballroom for London, England’s Rockabilly Band “The Savage Hornets” and they turned out to be my absolute favorite band of the evening..hands down. So much fun!

I also scored some “It’s really late but don’t we still look awesome” photos with Toronto friends. Then.. I went to bed.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Rockabilly Style / Vintage Style

And that is my LONG post on the first day of VIVA. Can you believe that was only day 1? Man I’m tired just reliving it thru this post 🙂

Thanks for stopping by and if you attended VIVA tell me who you favorite Thursday band was?

Further Reading:

Liz 🙂

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Tag: rockabilly

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18-Saturday

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18-Thursday