THEY are polishing their rhinestones and perfecting their lip snarls for this year's record-breaking European Elvis Presley impersonator championships.

It's a convention that continues to grow and the 70-plus bewigged, side-burned and jumpsuited Elvises milling about the Hilton Birmingham Metropole for three days in January is the biggest entry to date.

For some, it's a serious business, others less so, but every year it brings an increasing international mix of spangled performers of varying ability, according to organiser and Elvis impersonator Michael King, who admits: "There are some good ones and there are some not so good ones."

King, real name Cawthray, came into the latter category when he made the headlines offstage for assaulting the son of one of the many Elvises' guitarists. He was given a suspended sentence and fined after he reportedly punched and kicked Jeff Burton in an out of character outburst after he found his wife leaving the performer’s hotel after the 2011 championships.

While it's not officially part of the judging criteria, some may hope a suitable pseudonym will help in the overall score, with Johnny Elvis, Memphis Pete, Ben Presley, Gary Graceland and, from Germany, Elvoice, on the list.

Though the King of Rock and Roll died in 1977, his spirit is alive and well at such conventions.

The January 6-8 event, described as Europe's largest annual Elvis tribute artist contest and convention, has been running for 15 years and first started out in Blackpool.

Outgrowing the venue and moving to Birmingham, it attracts Elvis acts from all over Europe – one year there was a memorable Italian American contestant – and this year they hail from Denmark, Norway, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Malta, Romania, England, Wales, Eire and, yes, Scotland!

One of the Scots taking part, Glasgow-born Iain Mckellar, 55, who now lives in Andover, Hants, is entering for the second time and he said there is more to it for the £50 entry than the £1,000 first prize, adding it is a rich social gathering.

The father of three, who drives a tractor by day, is a club singer by night who has only recently added the Elvis outfit to the songs, first borrowing then buying a studded jumpsuit from one friend, then securing the loan of a wig from another.

The winner is chosen by aficionado judges and the audience and is based on looks, stage presence, charisma and singing, with contestants performing two classics back to back.

Mckellar fell at the first hurdle when he entered the championships before. He said: "I made a bit of a cock-up on some of the words. I'm a pub and clubs singer who sings Elvis songs without dressing up, so I very rarely put on the costume."

He added: "If I get past the first round that will be enough for me."

The event is claimed to be one of the best championships of its kind in the world.

Organiser King said: "We get them from all over. It is open to anyone in the world.

"I've been doing it myself since the 1980s and it's pretty much bigger now than it's ever been."

But King, who said he is semi-retired and currently putting on a David Bowie show, made clear that his earlier fracas had "nothing to do with Elvis".