FOR all those Elvis fans who dreamed of seeing him on stage in person but never made it, the next best thing is coming to the NEC this month.

Following a sell out tour in 2003, the show Elvis - The Concert has returned to the UK this year.

Elvis never performed in the UK during his lifetime but by utilising state-of-the-art video projected concert footage of The King he is reunited with his former band members who perform live on stage at the NEC in a unique production.

The show aims to present an authentic as possible Elvis Presley concert. The producers edited together a collection of Elvis's finest concert performances that exist on film and video and removed all sound from the footage except for Elvis's voice. The Elvis footage is projected on a large video screen. On stage a 16-piece orchestra and a group of Elvis's original band members from the concert era of his career perform live with the Elvis video.

Musicians include James Burton on lead guitar, Glen Hardin on piano, Jerry Scheff on bass guitar and Ronnie Tutt on drums.

The Sweet Inspirations provide the female backing vocals and The Stamps the male backing. These together with the orchestra under the baton of Jeo Guercio - Elvis's musical director and conductor for concert shows from 1970 to August 1977.

The 1968 to 1973 footage shows Elvis at the pinnacle of his superstardom and at the height of his powers as a concert performer and in top form physically.

The concert is on Friday, April 29 at the NEC in Birmingham.

For tickets at £32 and £27 contact the box office on 0870 909 4133.