‘This is my escape’: scenes from the Elvis festival that takes over a small town

Tribute artist Lenard Connolly steps out for his set at the Parkes Railway Bowling Club. Photograph: Stuart Miller/The Guardian

Sheryl Scharkie knows she isn’t the typical Elvis tribute artist.

“Female Elvis tribute artists aren’t necessarily well-received,” she tells Guardian Australia. In fact she’s one of only two in the country. “Ten years ago, it was basically unheard of. It took a while for people to get used to me.”