Rockabilly festival thunders into Las Vegas — PHOTOS
Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, the largest rockabilly festival and Las Vegas’ longest running music festival, kicked off its 20th year Thursday.
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A vendor during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees take photos outside of The Orleans hotel-casino during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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People dance in the Mardi Gras Ballroom during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees make their way to the pool area during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees look through vintage clothing during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
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An attendee looks through vintage clothing during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees browse through vendors during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees browse through vendors during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
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Attendees browse through clothing options at Atomic Swag during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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An attendee browses through vendors during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees head towards the pool during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
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Attendees relax in the pool area during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees relax in the pool area during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
![](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/8371541_web1_b16y0579.jpg)
Attendees relax in the pool area during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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The Showmen perform by the pool during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees explore the car show area during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees hang out in the car show area during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees hang out in the car show area during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
![](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/8371541_web1_vlv_041417cs_004.jpg)
Attendees outside of The Orleans hotel-casino during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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An attendee takes a break during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees bowl during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees bowl during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Eden Grace, third from left, with wife Margaret, both of Oakland, Calif., dance during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Jittery Jack and Miss Amy Griffin perform during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Lakshmi Ramirez, in red, takes a photo of wife Angela, both of the Philippines, during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
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Classic cars arrive for the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Jaye Ferrone, left, of Baltimore, and "Rockin'" Rick Torres of northern California talk during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees hang out as vehicles get set up ahead of the car show during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Christian and Petra of Germany dance during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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A performer plays an upright bass during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees get a look at classic cars during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
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Attendees pass by a car during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Angela Ramirez of the Philippines poses for a photo taken by her husband Lakshmi, not pictured, during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees hold onto their hats as high winds blow during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Jittery Jack performs during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
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Attendees hang out as vehicles get set up ahead of the car show during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
![](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/8371541_web1_viva-las-vegas_041317cs_015.jpg)
Miss Amy Griffin performs during the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend at The Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Updated April 16, 2017 - 11:22 pm
Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, the largest rockabilly festival and Las Vegas’ longest running music festival, kicked off its 20th year Thursday. Over the course of the weekend, about 20,000 rockabilly enthusiasts are expected to attend the four-day celebration at The Orleans, which includes the car show, a collection of over 800 pre-1964 classic cars.
Rockabilly culture began with the music — a genre dating back to the early 1950s that draws on country, rhythm and blues, Western swing and bluegrass influences. The genre is often considered the earliest form of rock ‘n’ roll. From there, though, it grew to be a lifestyle for many, defined by the dance and fashion that accompanied the music.
The festival pays tribute to each of the features that have come to represent rockabilly, with dance classes, burlesque shows, a tiki pool party and more throughout the weekend.