One day to Eurovision in Concert

Sandra Reemer Co-host of Eurovision In Concert  

Amsterdam, Netherlands - In just 24 hours time, in Amsterdam, the sixth annual Eurovision In Concert will take place. Outside of the actual Eurovision Song Contest itself, this is the biggest gathering of artists from the 2014 contest, and Eurovision.tv will be there to cover it, and to bring interviews with the artists, as well as their performances at the Melkweg venue in the city centre.

Over the course of this week, we have been previewing the acts that are going to be appearing at Eurovision In Concert, either through interviews, or videos of the entries. Today we have a look at what will be happening at this keenly anticipated event, which is already sold out, and which special guests will be appearing.

Say wonderful things

Before the concert in the evening, there is a packed afternoon for the artists as they meet the press. There will be a short introductory event, at 13:30 with:
-Cornald Maas (Host of Eurovision In Concert)
-Sietse Bakker (Event Supervisor of EBU)
-Jan Lagermand Lundme (Head of Show, Danish broadcaster DR)
-Emmelie de Forest (Winner of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest)
-All 25 participating delegations
From 14:15 until 16:30 the artists will be having a series of one-to-one interview with the press, whilst also undertaking their soundchecks.

Be my guest

Eurovision In Concert will be hosted by Cornald Maas, along with Sandra Reemer. The latter represented the Netherlands in three editions of Europe's Favourite Tv Show, in 1972, 1976 and 1979, achieving a highly respectable fourth place in the 1972 edition (in a duet with Andres) with the song Als Het Om De Liefde Gaat.
Reuniting for Eurovision In Concert are the Dutch all girl group Frizzle Sizzle, who represented the Netherlands in the 1986 contest with the song Alles Heeft Ritme, which finished in 13th place in Bergen.
Plus, as mentioned above, Emmelie de Forest will also be performing at the concert.

Watch Emmelie de Forest perform Only Teardrops

Sing me a song

The 25 acts from 2014 who will perform at Eurovision In Concert

• Albania - Hersi
• Armenia - Aram MP3
• Austria - Conchita Wurst
• Azerbaijan - Dilara Kazimova
• Belarus - Teo
• Belgium - Axel Hirsoux
• Denmark - Basim
• France - Twin Twin
• F.Y.R. Macedonia - Tijana
• Georgia - The Shin and Mariko
• Greece - Freaky Fortune feat. RiskyKidd
• Latvia - Aarzemnieki
• Lithuania - Vilija Matačiūnaitė
• Malta - Firelight
• Moldova - Cristina Scarlat
• Montenegro - Sergej Ćetković
• Netherlands - The Common Linnets
• Norway - Carl Espen
• Portugal - Suzy
• Romania - Paula Seling and Ovi
• San Marino - Valentina Monetta
• Spain - Ruth Lorenzo
• Switzerland - Sebalter
• Ukraine - Maria Yaremchuk
• United Kingdom - Molly

Stay tuned to Eurovision.tv to watch interviews and performances from Eurovision In Concert 2014. To the 1500 or so attendees at the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam, we wish you all an enjoyable and memorable event.

The Party's Over

The Official Eurovision in Concert Afterparty will take place at Odeon; a trendy party venue located in the heart of Amsterdam's canal belt (fiveminutes by foot from Melkweg) with a capacity of 450 people. Join Us! There will be several Eurovision performances as well! Tickets cost € 10.00 and will be available at the entrance to Eurovision In Concert.

Eurovision In Concert 2015?

So before Eurovision In Concert 2014 has even taken place, the big question is will there be another event in 2015?
"I can't tell you yet whether there will be an Eurovision In Concert 2015 or not" says René Romkes "every year the team comes together after Eurovision In Concert and then we ask each other: 'are we going on with it or not?' You can imagine Eurovision In Concert takes a lot of preparation and time. We all have our full time jobs as well. You have to be a little crazy to do it I guess..and yes...the Dutch are crazy!"

Which act will you be supporting at Eurovision In Concert?

Former winners to appear at preview events

Anne Marie David 1973 winner

Europe - Two former winners of Europe's Favourite Tv Show are amongst the acts who are appearing at preview parties across Europe. Anne Marie David who won the contest for Luxembourg in 1973 has just been confirmed for the London Preview Party on the 13th April, whilst last year's winner Emmelie de Forest will be a special guest at Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam on the 5th April.

The entries for the 2014 contest have been formally submitted, and the Semi-Finalists now know their position in the running order, and fans now wait patiently for the rehearsals to commence. In the meantime though, a number of preview events are taking place across Europe. Let's have a look at who is going to be appearing, when and where, over the next few weeks.

29th March: Riga, Latvia

For the first time in Riga, a Eurovision preview party will take place. The following countries from the 2014 contest will be appearing: Austria , Lithuania and Poland will perform their songs. As an opening act at the preview show will be the band PeR who represented Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest last year.
The artists who are going to Eurovision preParty Riga 2014 will have an opportunity not only to sing in Riga, European Capital of Culture 2014, but to see Riga on the next day after the Concert, they will have a sightseeing tour of Riga for all the artists and journalists.
Eurovision preParty Riga 2014 concert will be streamed live on the internet on Latvian Public Media

5th April: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Eurovision In Concert is Europe's biggest preview party, and this year takes place for the sixth time in Amsterdam. Last year a record 25 countries were represented at the event, and this year already 20 countries have confirmed their appearance at the Melkweg venue in the city centre,
So far, the following countries from the 2014 contest wll be appearing: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, France, FYR Macedonia, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
Special guests will be Frizzle Sizzle who represented the Netherlands in 1986 with the song Alles Heeft Ritme and Emmelie de Forest who won the 2013 contest for Denmark with the song Only Teardrops.
The concert will be hosted by Sandra Reemer, (who represented the Netherlands in 1972, 1976 and 1979) and Cornald Maas.
Such is the popularity of the event that tickets are already sold out. Eurovision.tv will have a team there to cover the event.

13th April: London, United Kingdom

The London Preview Party is now in its seventh year, and this time is moving to a new, larger, venue at the Café De Paris in the heart of London's theatre district.
So far the following acts from the 2014 contest will be performing: Armenia, Austria, FYR Macedonia, Latvia, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Spain and Switzerland.
Special guests will be Anne Marie David who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973 for Luxembourg with the song Tu Te Reconnaitras, and was third in the 1979 competition for France, At the London event she will also perform Wonderful Dream the English version of her winning song for the British fans, as well as signing copies of the book "Songs For Europe - The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest - Volume Two - The 1970s". Also appearing is Scott Fitzgerald who represented the United Kingdom in 1988 with the song Go, coming a very close second by just one point behind Switzerland.
The party will be hosted by Nicki French (who represented the United Kingdom in 2000) and Paddy O'Connell.
Tickets are still available for the London Preview Party. Eurovision.tv will have a team there to cover the event.

Watch Anne Marie David

Did You Know?

• Preview videos of the entries first appeared in time for the 1971 edition of Europe's Favourite TV Show. Prior to this it was rare for viewers to see any entries outside their own country.
• Strict rules were enforced regarding the previews. For many years all participating countries were obliged to screen the previews on their national television channels. They weren't allowed to broadcast them in one programme, and had to be shown in at least two separate programmes.
• There were also restrictions on the earliest and latest dates they could be broadcast. In that first year of previews in 1971, the previews of Ireland and Malta were only shown in black and white, as colour television wasn't established in those countries yet. In fact the very first colour broadcast in Ireland was the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest, which was staged in Dublin.
• Nowadays broadcasters aren't obliged to broadcast the preview videos on their networks, but with the changing technology, fans have various ways of watching the preview videos, including watching them all here on Eurovision.tv!

Do You Know?

Do you know of any other preview parties taking place across Europe which feature artists from this year's contest appearing? Let us know at Eurovision.tv.

How do you like to watch the previews of this year's entries?

Eurovision in Concert with the rhythm of Frizzle Sizzle

Frizzle Sizzle - Dutch entrants in the 1986 contest

 

Amsterdam, Netherlands - Dutch girl band Frizzle Sizzle will make a one-off comeback this year at Eurovision in Concert; the annual Eurovision promotional event which takes place this year on April 5th in Amsterdam. The four Dutch girls represented the Netherlands in the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 13th with their entry Alles Heeft Ritme (Everything Has A Rhythm) . The band gained huge popularity in their home country at the time, but the girls decided to split up in 1989. Now, 28 years on from their contest appearance they will hit the stage as this year’s special guests.

Once again, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam will be the host city for Eurovision in Concert. Several 2014 Eurovision hopefuls will take the opportunity to get familiar with the Eurovision spirit, prior to the real thing in May. In a relatively short time, the event has become a landmark in many agendas; of both fans and artists. All previous editions were sell outs.
Last year, no less than 25 countries had their entrants perform at the concert, as well as special guest, 1991 winner, Carola Häggkvist. The artists get to meet their competitors, they can get used to giving interviews and most of all: they get to meet the most dedicated Eurovision fans from all over Europe.

First three acts confirmed

In the meantime, the first three acts have been announced by the organisation: Hersi Matmuja (Albania), Valentina Monetta (San Marino) and Conchita Wurst (Austria) have confirmed their participation. More acts will be announced in the upcoming weeks. This year’s hosts will be the three time Dutch Eurovision representative Sandra Reemer (1972, 1976 and 1979) and Cornald Maas, the Dutch commentator in the Eurovision Song Contest.
For more information and tickets: www.eurovisioninconcert.nl

Who do you want to see at Eurovision In Concert?