Tonight! Israel Calling Live Eurovision Concert in Tel Aviv

  

This is the night! The biggest open air pre-Eurovision concert is taking place tonight, 10 April in Tel Aviv, israel. 25 of the 43 ESC 2018 participants are already in israel promoting their entries and enjoying some much needed sun and warm Israeli hospitality. The open air concert is taking place in Rabin Sqaure adjacent to Tel Aviv Municipality, entrance is free. You  can and should follow all of Israel  Calling’s events this week and of course the livestream of the show (starting at 8pm local time, 6pm GMT, 1pm Eastern) on the Israel Calling Facebook page.  

 

 

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London brings Eurovision artists a step closer to Lisbon

 When it comes to Eurovision, London delivers and knows how to party!

19 artists from the ESC2018 lineup embraced the stage of Cafe de Paris for the eleventh London Eurovision Party (April 5th). Saara Aalto from Finland surprised the audience as the last minute addition to the party with her Monsters hit. Other artists joining the party included the beautiful and talented Jucie Lones, aka, Lucie Jones, Melodifestivalen runner up, Felix, Norway’s 2013 ambassador Margret, and of course, Portugal ESC First Lady and  royalty, Suzy! After all, it’s not a party until Suzy takes the stage! 

The party was hosted by our beloved Nicki Don’t Play That Song Again French, and Paddy O’Connell, UK Eurovision semi-finals commentator.

Kudos to organizers Kabir and Russell for delivering a stellar show and setting the bar high for the next pre Lisbon events! 

 

Watch this recap of last night’s show credit to our friends at wiwibloggs and all the performances on wiwibloggs YouTube channel 

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2018 Album Now Available to Download or Stream in the USA!

We were excited to wake up this morning with a text, notifying us that the Eurovision 2018 album, with all 43 tracks, is now available to download or stream in the USA. YaY!

While on some online music stores here in the USA, the album is not available for purchase, there are still plenty of platforms, including Spotify, and Apple Music, where you can easily play or download any of the 2018 songs.  

We have seen many different playlists out there in recent weeks, where quality of the sound is compromised, people using ileggit sources or not even official versions, so we strongly recommend using this official one. 

 

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NYC, ALL ABOARD! EurovisioNYC Is Back On April 21st @ Hardware Bar

The next edition of the NYC monthly Eurovision party is taking place this month on Saturday, the 21st (3pm-7pm) at our usual spot, Hardware Bar (48th&10th).  We will get to dance and party to this years’s entries as well as our usual ESC favorites and classics. Judging by our previous events, you definitely don’t want to miss this one! 

 

 Life looks better in spring, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate, Eurovision-style! Join us and your fellow Eurovision lovers and dance along to all of this year’s entries and some of your favorite hits and classics!


We'll also have drink specials at Hardware Bar which include:

$4 - Mimosas, Bloodies and Margaritas

$6 - Long Island Ice Teas

Co-hosted by Hardware Bar and DJ ohRicky!

Be sure to also invite your friends and other Eurovision lovers to our new community page. 

 

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This is London calling! London Eurovision Party On April 5th!

For the eleventh year in a row, London is hosting one  of the most anticipated nights of the 2018 Eurovision season for Eurovision fans and followers! The London Eurovision Party 2018 will take place once again at the iconic Café de Paris venue in Leicester Square on Thursday 5th April. Some of this year’s acts will be  embracing the London stage such as Benjamin Ingrosso from Sweden, Jessica Mauboy from Australia, EQUINOX  from Bulgaria and of course Surie from the United Kingdom. The event is hosted by our Goddess, Nicki French, and Mr. Eurovision, Paddy O’connell. You can read more about it on the official website www.londoneurovision.com. 

 

 

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Lonely Symphony Live in NYC. Frances Ruffelle on Concert, 30 April!

Tony Award winner, and equally important, 1994 United Kingdom delegate to Eurovision, Frances Ruffelle, is back in the Big Apple!

Ruffelle is making her return with the stunning solo performance: "Frances Ruffelle Live(S) in New York!". She will performing at the Green Room on 42nd Street (Yotel) on April 30th.  

 Frances Ruffelle’s Live(S) in New York  encompasses Broadway, Piaf, French 60s pop, and American chart hits. It features an updated version of "On My Own," Ruffelle's signature number from the original Les Miserables, a song cut from the original French production of the show. The evening also includes selections from Michael LaChiusa's The Wild Party, in which she starred as Qeenie in the show's recent acclaimed U.K. Premiere. You can read more about the show on her Website. 

Frances represented the United Kingdom in Dublin at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with the beautiful entry Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free). Though she didn’t win, her entry was a big Eurovision hit that year, and brought her even more exposure as an artist and as a very successful actress. 


We already got our tickets  and we hope to see you there!  

EUROVISIONYC continues to dominate the Eurovision scene in New York!

For six years now, NYC is obsessing on Eurovision, and the new monthly Eurovision parties, hosted by EurovisioNYC, continues to dominate the Eurovision scene in the city. The monthly event brings together Eurovision music lovers from all over the city to watch and dance to Eurovision classics, eurovision schlager music, as  well as this year's entries. The fourth event is scheduled for Saturday April 21st at 4pm at Hardware Bar (48th and 10th Avenue). 

Don't forget to follow EurovisioNYC on Facebook! 

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Times Square's Tonic hosts annual Melodifesitvalen party!

In what has become a NYC Eurovision tradition, Time Square's Tonic Bar hosted its annual Melodifestivalen viewing party!

More than 150 eager Eurovision fans, Swedes in NYC, and friends of, gathered on Saturday, 10 March, to watch together over some food, drinks and good company the final of the Swedish selection to Eurovision, aka, Melodifestivalen.

For many, Melodifestivalen is a mini Eurovision or the official kick off event for Eurovision season. 

After a close and nail biting votes for some, bookies favorite, Benjamin Ingrosso, ended up winning with Dance You Off. 

credit: Julio Moscoso 

credit: Julio Moscoso 

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VISAGE AND MATTHEWS ARE BACK! LOGO TV To Broadcast Eurovion Final On 12 May!

LOGO TV, Viacom’s LGBTQ+ channel, is confirmed to broadcast the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon on 12 May. This will be the third consecutive year LOGO will air the show live.

American viewers can still watch the show on the eurovision.tv live stream or foreign tv channels that are available in the USA, such as Portugal’s RTP and Spain’s International RTVE.

LOGO also announced that last year’s commentators, Michelle Visage and Ross Matthews would be back this year to the commentary seat. Visage and Matthews are of course best known for their appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Matthews has also recently increased his popularity on US cable tv primetime, after finishing close second on CBS’ first season of Celebrity Big Brother.

HOST COUNTRY BANS RUSSIAN ENTRANT OVER CRIMEA TOUR

As expected, host-country Ukraine announced earlier today, 22 March, that Russian entrant, Yulia Samoylova is banned  from entering the country for three years following her 2015 visit to annexed Crimea, violating local legislation. This obviously means, she won't be able to participate at the upcoming 62nd Eurovision Song Contest in Kiyv, this coming May. 

Samoylova admitted she  participated in a 2015 concert in Crimea to promote sport, just a  year after the peninsula was annexed by Russia. 

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), following this news, has released the following  statement: "It has been confirmed to the EBU that the Ukrainian authorities have issued a travel ban on the Russian artist chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest, Julia Samoylova, as she has been judged to have contravened Ukrainian law by entering Crimea in order to perform. We have to respect the local laws of the host country, however we are deeply disappointed in this decision as we feel it goes against both the spirit of the Contest, and the notion of inclusive that lies at the heart of its values. We will continue a dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities with the aim of ensuring that all artists can perform at the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv in May.".

Later on, the EBU suggested Julia would remain in Russia and perform via satellite, a much welcome compromise which unfortunately was rejected by both parties. 

We remain hopeful this situation is quickly resolved where all countries are allowed to participate and perform while respecting host country's law.

Host country to decide on Russian singer's participation

Just a couple of days, on Sunday, Russia announced that former X Factor star, Julia Samoylova, would  represent her country in Kiyv this year. Julia, who has been using a wheel-chair since childhood, is scheduled to  perform her entry "Flame Is Burning" during the second semi-final  on May 11th. However, shortly after the announcement it was host country Ukraine who is now trying to disqualify Julia's participation.  Ukraine said Monday that it may bar Julia from entering the country, on the grounds that she illegally toured Crimea after Russia annexed the peninsula back in 2014. The singer has confirmed  that she indeed sang in Crimea. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Jon Ola Sand, EBU's  Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, has stated in a press conference that “we fully respect and understand the laws of Ukraine, but from the point of European Broadcasting Union (EBU) we have no objections to the Russian delegation and do not see any violations on their part.”  Having said that, the EBU is giving the final decision to the Ukrainian government as to whether Julia can enter the country to compete in May and  "will respect it".  A final decision will be made in the next week or so. Stay tuned!