Toowoomba guitarist returns home after Las Vegas stint to perform in Elvis Christmas tribute show at Empire Theatre

He’s played in top bands across the world, but now a Toowoomba State High product is coming home to light up the Empire Theatre with the Darling Downs Elvis.

After playing in the bright lights of Las Vegas for years, Sam Hilder was excited to bring his talents back home.

The Toowoomba State High product and internationally-accomplished guitarist is back in the Garden City and he’s already been snapped up by “the Darling Downs Elvis” Tristan James for his upcoming Christmas Show at the Empire Theatre precinct.

Preparing for the Elvis: Sounds of Christmas show at the Empire Theatre are guitarist Sam Hilder and Elvis tribute artist Tristan James.

Mr Hilder is no stranger to the King’s music, having played in the band for the world’s only all-Elvis tribute show in Las Vegas.

“I had various positions over the years, I was first chair for a couple of production shows, I would sub on others and I was just doing various corporate, bar and community gigs,” he said.

“I also worked the Elvis show out there, which is the only all-Elvis tribute show in the world.

“We have a three-year-old and Las Vegas isn’t the best place to raise children, what with the ‘Sin City’ phrase.”

Preparing for the Elvis: Sounds of Christmas show at the Empire Theatre are guitarist Sam Hilder and Elvis tribute artist Tristan James.

The move back home was “serendipitous” for Mr James, who has staked a claim for producing home grown Elvis tribute shows using local talent.

“I figured out that a guy from Toowoomba was in a Vegas Elvis band,” he said.

“I just messaged Sam and he said that he was moving back home some it was serendipitous.”

Mr Hilder will join an accomplished band of Ayden Roberts, Matthew Morgan, Melanie Martin and Mike Escobar for Elvis: Sounds of Christmas on December 2, which Mr James said would be his production company Magnifico Creative’s most ambitious to date.

“It’s about 70 per cent sold so far in the Church Theatre, so I think we’ll sell it out,” he said.

“We’re trying to make this one of the greatest technical productions we’ve done, with strings and horn tracks layered over the top.

“Elvis’ Christmas album is the highest-selling Christmas album of all time, so there is about 40 per cent Christmas and 60 per cent Elvis songs.”

For tickets, head to the Empire Theatre website.