It’s Eurovision time!
Image: Perth-based synth-metal band, Voyager will represent Australia at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Image: Michael Dann
The 67th annual Eurovision Song Contest is underway. This year, 37 countries will compete for prestige, glamour and that gorgeous crystal microphone trophy. Opting out this year are Bulgaria, Montenegro and North Macedonia; Australia, on the other hand, will be competing as hard as ever.
Eurovision 2023 is being held in Liverpool, England at the magnificent Liverpool Arena (aka M&S Bank Arena). It’s the ninth time the UK has hosted Eurovision, having previously held it in 1960, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1982 and 1998. Traditionally, the winner of the competition is given the honour of hosting the event the following year. Ukraine actually won in 2022 with the song “Stafania” by Kalush Orchestra, but it was ultimately deemed to unsafe to hold the event in that country due to the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine has won Eurovision twice before and did host the event in Kyiv both in 2005 and 2017. The only other time another country has hosted on behalf of the winner was in 1980. Israel had won the 1978 competition and hosted in 1979. It then won the 1979 competition but declined to host the very expensive event for a second time and it was instead held in Netherlands in 1980.
This year’s British broadcast will be co-hosted by Ukrainian lead singer from alt-rock band, The Hardkiss, Julia Sanina. She’ll be joined by British personalities Alesha Dixon and Hannah Waddingham. Graham Norton will add his special brand of flair on the final night.
Australia will be competing in Eurovision for the eighth year. This year’s contender is Perth synth-metal band, Voyager made up of lead vocalist Danny Estrin, guitarists Simone Dow and Scott Kay, bass guitarist Alex Canion and drummer Ashley Doodkorte. It’s the first time Australia has chosen a band as its representative, with previous entrants having been Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, Isaiah, Jessica Mauboy, Kate Miller-Heidke, Montaigne and Sheldon Riley.
Voyager has vied for the right to represent Australia since it first entered Eurovision in 2015. They came second in the selection show last year with “Dreamer” and now their dream is coming to fruition as they take to the laser-lit, multi-effects stage in Liverpool with their hopeful song, “Promise”.
SBS will be broadcasting the Eurovision 2023 semi-finals and final from May 10 to May 14 live from Liverpool in the early hours, then replaying in the evening and making the broadcast available on On Demand. Viewers who tune in to the live broadcast will be able to vote.
For all broadcast and voting details visit sbs.com.au
