Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Latvia's Riga kicks off the major Eurovision promo events this year. Spikeri Concert hall in Riga has ten of this year's artists on stage with special guests from Sweden: the Eurovision 1984 winners The Herreys, and Schlagerfeber quartet made of four experienced Melodifestivalen and Eurovision backing singers belting out some hits.  This event is rapidly growing; two years ago when it was organized for the first time there were ony 3 artists, last year 8 and now 10.  This year's artists are: Belarus - Ivan Bosnia & Herzegovina - Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner and Jala Bulgaria - Poli Genova Estonia -Jüri Pootsmann Israel - Hovi Star Latvia - Justs Malta - Ira Losco Serbia - Sanja Vučić ZAA Spain - Barei Switzerland - Rykka

Remember Latvian Musiqq that represented the country in Eurovision 2011 with Angel in disguise and deserved so much more? The band's been releasing new music ever since and has all but disappeared. Now they have released a new single in both Latvian Dari ká es and English While we are young with a fancy video showing Riga with a twist to go with it. Actually it makes me wanna revisit that beautiful town... Enjoy!

It's time for a little summer trip and I'm off to Riga for the very first time. Riga hosted the Eurovision 2003 when Turkey won with 167 points followed by Belgium' s 165 and Russia 's 164 - a surprise twist after the last voting round and one of the most spectacular votings ever while the Latvian winning song the year before might be one of the less spectacular ever. The song, not the performance . Latvia has finished in the top-5 also with their debut in 2000 and again in 2005 . The past three years they have missed the final even if at least this year Musiqq did deserve the final if you ask me.... See you next week!