Today (Monday 17 April) the BBC have announced that the 2022 winners, Kalush Orchestra, and 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder will perform live during the Eurovision Grand Final, a flag parade packed with Ukrainian Eurovision Song Contest icons.
There will also be a large-scale celebration of Liverpool’s musical heritage that will include even more big names from the contest’s history.
The winners from the previous year, Kalush Orchestra, and a powerful performance titled Voices of a New Generation will open the Grand Final for this year’s Contest, which will be held in Liverpool on behalf of the winners of the 2022 Contest, Ukraine. The Kalush Orchestra will return to open the 2023 Grand Final with a performance that will include their smash-hit winning song Stefania after winning the hearts of viewers all over the world last year.
Viewers will be treated to a special performance by some iconic past Ukrainian participants during the Flag Parade of all 26 Grand Finalists.
Get ready for a new twist on their Eurovision entries, weaved with British classics, as Go_A, Jamala, Tina Karol, and Verka Serduchka take to the stage and remind us all precisely why they became Eurovision Song Contest favourites.
Photo Credit – Rio Carciero
Sam Ryder, the UK’s very own spaceman, will make his triumphant return to the Eurovision Song Contest stage for the first interval performance, during which voting takes place throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Sam Ryder led the UK to its biggest victory at the Contest in more than 20 years last year.
Runner-up of the 2022 Contest Sam Ryder says:
“What an honour to be invited back to the Eurovision stage for a second time! I can’t wait to be back amongst the beautiful chaos of it all and to watch the incredible artists perform this time around, while bringing you a special performance of our own. Big love!”.
Grand final viewers expect an incredible performance that is sure to stun given his long list of accomplishments since his stratospheric 2022 Contest performance of SPACE MAN, including a UK number 1 debut album, a nomination for Best Breakthrough Act at the BRITs, and a spot on the lineup for the Platinum Party at the Palace for last year’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Liverpool Songbook, the closing interval performance, celebrates the famous pop music contributions made by the host city. Along with Liverpool’s own Sonia, who celebrates 30 years since placing second in the 1993 Contest, the BBC has gathered six legendary acts from previous Eurovision Song Contests: Italy’s Mahmood, Israel’s Netta, Iceland’s Dai Freyr, Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs, and Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands.
These past winners of the Eurovision Song Contest will all perform some of the most well-known and cherished songs that Liverpool has ever given the world.
Eurovision Song Contest 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra say:
“We’ve been looking forward to performing in Liverpool ever since it was announced as host last year. The city has a world-renowned musical heritage and we’re delighted to finally be able to announce what an honour it will be for us to be there.
While we’re sad that we couldn’t bring the Eurovision Song Contest back to our home country, we’re really grateful to the UK for hosting this party on our behalf. We will perform for everyone in Ukraine to remind us that better days and our country’s victory is ahead, as well as to show the world what Ukraine is fighting for.”
READ MORE: Eurovision semi-finals performances announced by the BBC
