Lithuania may be the only Baltic nation to have not managed a Eurovision victory, but they have found a way to host some Eurovision magic. Broadcaster LRT and Lithuania’s 2018 singer Ieva Zasimauskaitė have launched the arena concert Eurovision Afterparty, due to take place on December 16.
While many counties — including neighbouring Latvia — hold pre-parties, Lithuania is looking back. The concert is designed to reflect on the most recently held Eurovision, which gives Lithuania a point of difference in the annual schedule of Eurovision party events.
LRT describes the event as “a new and ambitious concert of friendship and music” and notes that it has the wishful slogan “Finally, Eurovision is coming to Lithuania!”
The event will be hosted by Ieva Zasimauskaitė, who last month had hinted at the concert when promoting her new single “Absorbed”.
As well as Ieva, an assortment of stars from Lisbon have already been booked for the event. Baltic neighbours Laura Rizzotto (Latvia) and Elina Nechayeva (Estonia) will be making an appearance. Also on the lineup are two favourites of the Lithuanian jury: Ireland’s Ryan O’Shaughnessy, who received 12 points from Lithuania’s jury in the semi-final, and Austria’s Cesar Sampson who got the jury douze in the grand final.
There’s also speculation that the event will feature performances from regular stars of Lithuania’s national final.
Ieva spoke of wanting to share her Lisbon experience with Lithuania. She said, “I want you to be close by and feel what I felt in Lisbon. I want each one of you to touch this musical adventure from up close.”
The creation of the Eurovision Afterparty could be seen as a sign that Lithuania is getting serious about winning Eurovision, much like Israel was when it launched the Israel Calling pre-party. Ieva commented, “We have seen that winning is possible even without getting first place, and Lithuania is a strong player in the big Eurovision.”
The Eurovision Afterparty concert will be held at Žalgiris Arena, in Ieva’s hometown Kaunas — the second largest city in Lithuania. The concert will take place on December 16.
Tickets are due to go on sale on September 24, however right now special fan zone tickets are available at the pre-sale special price of €15.00.
What do you think of the Eurovision Afterparty? Which stars of 2018 would you like to see perform at the event? Leave your comments below!
The first pagraphs in facebook event describtion literally says “It’s the wish to celebrate the end of Eurovision by transmitting experience to the newly selected representative of Lithuania”
Lithuania will select its representative even earlier than Albania this year 😀
Yeah? Haven’t noticed that and I think it is not quite true as Audrius Girzadas has recently said that they would only announce new rules this month, so it seems quite soon.
https://www.lrt.lt/projektai/eurovizija/naujienos/31/226012/keiciasi-nacionalines-eurovizijos-atrankos-taisykles-laimetoja-suzinosime-greiciau#skip
Well, this article also says that “By January and February we will already have selected the song which will go to Israel”, so it makes even more sense.
I am more than OK with that, but we will see ?
This is something exciting coming from Lithuania. I’m even more eager to see how the stage will turn out, to be honest! I’m eager for Elina and Ryan, maybe they could bring something new at this event.
Cool! Good luck Lithuania! Who knows, maybe they’ll win in TLV?… 🙂