Good evening, Liverpool calling! We are getting so close to Eurovision 2023 we can almost taste it, and with that the team at Eurovision HQ have announced the first artists for The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome show. Amongst the stellar lineup are Eurovision legends such as Jamala and Conchita Wurst.
The party will take place at St George’s Hall in Liverpool on Sunday 7 May. Hosted by all-round wonderful person AJ Odudu and The Masked Singer UK host Joel Dommett, the National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome will officially mark the beginning of song contest festivities in Liverpool.
The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome: Sunday 7 May
In social posts and on their site, Eurovision have fed viewers with the first drips of news, including contest winner Conchita Wurst from 2014’s contest in Copenhagen, who has always brought her message of love to the contest ever since.
We will also see Jamala from Ukraine. Of course, the BBC is hosting the contest on behalf of Jamala’s country. It is bound to be an emotional moment when she takes to the stage, with a profound meaning of why the contest isn’t being held in Ukraine this year after Kalush Orchestra’s win last year.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood set for Eurovision reunion
Among Eurovision-specific names, we also had some familiar names from Liverpool’s world-renowned music scene on the list.
Eighties icons Frankie Goes To Hollywood will reunite for the first time since their split in 1987, to bring hits such as “Relax” and “The Power of Love” to the stage.
Pop darlings Atomic Kitten will be there, to the delight of their many fans in the UK. The band are most famous for their noughties hits including “Whole Again” which reached the coveted UK number one spot, as well as their covers of “Eternal Flame” and “The Tide Is High”.
We will also get to hear from Scouse soul icons The Real Thing, whose song “You To Me Are Everything” was a colossal hit in the 70s.
However, if you want to hear crowd noise, you can definitely rely on The Lightning Seeds. People outside of the UK may not be so immediately familiar with their band name, but will certainly know the hook of their England football anthem “Three Lions” which many international fans have muted on Twitter and beyond when British fans (including yours truly) get too much. It’s. Coming. HOME.
Yes, the local fans will be in sheer euphoria singing the sports mantra along with the band for sure, so pack some ear defenders where needed.
A last chance to grab tickets…
Yes, there is one last chance to join the 30,000 strong crowd in Liverpool on the Sunday night. An extra 9,000 tickets will be available at 13:00 CEST on Tuesday 25 April. You can get the tickets HERE, which are free except for a ÂŁ2 per ticket booking fee. You can get two tickets on one booking, and will need a National Lottery ticket with you when you go (these can be bought from any supermarket or newsagent in the UK).
Liverpool calling ?
— The National Lottery (@TNLUK) March 10, 2023
We hope you can join us on May 7th for The National Lotteryâs Big Eurovision Welcome ??
More info here ?https://t.co/fQEDLMJdEj#Eurovision2023 #BigEurovisionWelcome pic.twitter.com/IAn51O0Ke8
Will you be joining the festivities at St George’s Hall? Which act are you most excited to see perform again at the celebration? Who do you want to be confirmed in the next wave of news? Let us know in the comments below!
I love eternal flame so happy to see them but overall quite old acts to entertain the locals.
Is anyone else wondering how 30,000 people will fit outside St George’s Hall? It doesn’t look big enough along with a stage area, food and toilet amenities.
What Atomic Kitten line-up is this? Will the one who represented the UK in Jerusalem be there?
Frankie goes to Hollywood, my musical heroes of the 80s, thatÂŽs more than fantastic news. The Real Thing is an amazing group, and Jamala to represent Ukraine. IÂŽm looking forward to fantastic shows and hope for some magical moments. LetÂŽs all be together in love and joy, showing the world there is no place for hate.
The Real Thing are absolute legends, last year btw they released a new album for the first time in 42 years
Atomic Kitten are such a childhood guilty pleasure of mine, still listen to most of their timeless bops, their version of The Tide is High also so great, Ladies Night their version is also very cool
Lucy, you need to edit you article please to reflect that “three lions” was the england anthem and has nothing to to do with GB.
Yes, as a Scot I find this a disgrace. I’ve known Lucy for years, but for someone from the UK to interchange Britain and Scotland is disappointing.
Fantastic news!
Not sure I’ll be free to go but loving the contest connections and the Liverpudlian lineup!
Atomic Kitten are fantastic performancers and it’ll make it up for Liz (who was beaten by Schooch ?). The Real Thing are guaranteed to work a crowd and the Lighting Seeds have one tenuous connection – one of their songs was used in the postcard for Macedonia 1998!
Lightning seeds from the football is coming home bop
now we can make it
Eurovision has come home
I am so excited for this!! I got tickets a few weeks ago before anyone was announced. I would LOVE it is Mans was added to the line up or VERKA!!!
Ugh. Jamala. What a buzzkill. She’s really annoying and they love to shove her down our throat.
Really happy about Frankie Goes to Hollywood, though!! When two tribes go to war, one is all you can scooooore. đ
That’s harsh. I think she is a fantastic performer and I’m proud to have her associated with the contest to this day.
However I am dreadfully sick of Verka, there’s someone who’s shoved down our throats!
Omg. Don’t even get me started on Verka! I cannot stand that stupid act.