Folk fest: Ireland on stage

The stage background is split into an array of cells by a network of orange lines, like neon stonework, which eases into movement during the extended instrumental break, and waxes and wanes behind the band as they play. The Irish delegation have avoided the clichéd greens of last year's staging.

Easy-going
The band give a very easy-going, laid-back performance, and it works very well on stage - They Can't Stop the Spring has more than a little of the pub performance about it, which, at least today, was emphasised by the casual jacket and trouser look that the band members opted for. Cathy Jordan looks costumed up already, in a folksy black and mustard floor-length dress with hair tied up in a ponytail, playing the bodhrán as she goes. She has a charming performance style; extremely honest and gentle, and this comes across nicely in the hall and on the screen.

There is structure in the performance via a simple routine where the band members follow Cathy around the stage like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, and the easy attitude of the band on stage means that this is not too rigid to spoil the mood.

The finish is dealt with nicely, with the camera pulling out from Cathy to the whole band, as she beats a triumphant last note in the air.

Sopho's big welcome to Europe

The whole Georgian delegation has expressed its huge joy at becoming part of the Eurovision family this year. To show its thanks and introduce a little of Georgia to the other delegations in Helsinki, the doors were opened to artists and journalists alike for the official Georgian party last night.
A sumptuous buffet was laid on for the guests, prepared by "Georgia's most esteemed chef". This included a special section for Georgian national cuisine, which disappeared rather quickly as guests helped themselves. Latvia's Bonaparti.lv were just some of the artists who turned up to show solidarity with fellow Eurovision artists, and tuck into some of the food on offer - complete with top hats and tails!

The party girl
However, most people had come for the chance to see Georgian debutant artist Sopho perform to the guests, and she did not disappoint, with a whole set of songs she sang live to the appreciative international crown at Club Presidentti. She basked in the attention, clearly loving every minute on stage, and gave some strong performances in front of a myriad of flashing cameras. Some of her non-Eurovision tracks include some catchy samba numbers which got the crowd dancing along.

Other attractions at the party included traditional Georgian dancing and a very powerful male part-singing outfit, who raised the roof on stage. As such, the party was a celebration not only of Sopho and the first ever Eurovision entry for the country, but of Georgia, and reflects the pride that Georgians have at being able to showcase their land to the rest of Europe at this event.

EVRIDIKI AND DIMITRIS KORGIALAS AT THE MEDIA CENTER

03. CYPRUS: PRESS CONFERENCE

02. ISRAEL: PRESS CONFERENCE

01. BULGARIA: PRESS CONFERENCE

LGR : Win one free air ticket to Cyprus

London Greek Radio (LGR) have launched a Eurovision Song Contest competition where one lucky UK listener can win a free return air ticket to Cyprus, courtesy of Cyprus Airways.
To enter the competition all you have to do is predict the top five entries in this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki. The winner will be the one who predicts all five and in the correct order or, if that is not achieved by any entrant, the one who gets it as close as possible.

You can enter the LGR competition http://www.lgr.co.uk/competitions/eurovision
The deadline for the submission of the predictions is the day of the final, May 12th at 12.00, UK time.