Around hundred acts – from pop royalty, Eurovision contestants past and present, future stars, community groups to children’s favourites took to the stage across nine days at the Eurovision Village situated at the Pier Head in Liverpool as the city welcomed the Eurovision Song Contest.
Conchita Wurst
Blessed with fine weather on the final two days it was Austrian Drag Queen and 2014 Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst who made a lasting impression as the singer gave an emotional rendition of their winning song Fly Like An Eagle. Other tracks such as Call Me Up proved that Wurst should not just be judged on his Eurovision winning song.
“I feel really privileged to be here and part of the Eurovision family” said Wurst as the fans gave the Austrian one of the biggest cheers of the evening.
Fleur East
Fleur East demonstrated that besides being an all-round entertainer she also has a successful pop career. Her cover of Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk was inspiring and inspirational. The singer had many colours on her palate with the jazzy Count The Ways showcasing her vocal abilities.
Sophie Ellis Bextor
We all danced around the kitchen during the pandemic at Sophie Ellis Bextor’s Kitchen Disco, now it was Liverpool’s turn to shake some moves as the singer gave an impressive performance at the Pier Head.
Sticking to her hits, Bextor also covered tracks from other artists such as Madonna’s Like A Prayer, Alcatraz’s Crying At The Discotheque and Moloko’s Sing It Back though it was on her own tracks such as Get Over You and Murder on the Dancefloor where the likeable singer shined the most.
Katrina
Katrina of Katrina and the Waves seemed destined to perform Walking on Sunshine as the sun shone down at the Grand Final Party on the day of the Eurovision final. Of course, the fans of the Song Contest were not going to let her get away with not singing her Eurovision 1997 winning number Love Shine A Light. As the fans waved their hands in the air and the atmosphere grew, it all felt that everyone was part of a big Eurovision family.
Jedward
Whether you like Jedward or not, it was hard not to feel some sympathy for the former X Factor and Irish Eurovision stars as the identical twins gave a stunning performance that included an epic Eurovision Singalong of former Eurovision songs including Brotherhood of Man’s Save All Your Kisses For Me and Lulu’s Boom Bang A Bang.
Vengaboys
“Hello all you Scousers” shouted out the Vengaboys as they took to the stage. The act proclaimed that they are the number one European Party Act, something that was hard not to disagree on as the four-piece.
As they kicked their set off with the Black Eyed Peas I’ve Got A Feeling, the song title felt like a statement of intent as it was going to be a good night when the Vengaboys took to the Liverpool stage. We Like To Party and Boom, Boom, Boom! seemed perfect songs on the night of the Eurovision Song Contest – begging the question why the Vengaboys have never entered the contest?
Claire Richards
Claire Richards from Steps, another act who would be perfect for Eurovision ran through some of their biggest songs including One For Sorrow and Deepest Shade of Blue as the audience gave Richards a big Liverpool welcome.
Despite our own Eurovision song from Mae Muller coming second to last of the 2023 contest, the acts appearing at the Eurovision Village had all been first class where Liverpool provided a party that will be lovingly remembered for years to come from all those who attended.
