Good evening Eurolovers and we finally kick off Eurovision selection season with Semi Final 1 of Albania’s long-running show Festivali i Kenges! We’re covering the 56th edition, where on Saturday night we find out the winner and who will ultimately be representing Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon. Great music and fun times are on the horizon so join us as we live blog all of the musical fanfare from RTSH’s studios in Tirana.
The Running Order is expected to be as follows –
1. Elton Deda
2. Mariza Ikonomi
3. Endri & Stefi Prifti
4. Evans Rama
5. David & Genc Tukici
6. Voltan Prodani
7. Eugent Bushpepa
8. Rezarta Smaja and Luis Ejlli
9. Bojken Lako
10. Manjola Nallbani
11. Redon Makashi
Despite last year allowing the public to contribute to the selection, the organisers for this year’s edition have completely done away with the Public Vote, choosing instead to select the finalists entirely using a Jury Vote. The finalists from tonight’s show will not be known until after the end of Semi 2 , scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) night.
We will also be treated to a special guest performance from Italian singer Riccardo Cocciante. He was the coach of previous Festivali i Kenges winner Elhaida Dani on the Italian version of reality show The Voice. Riccardo and Elhaida will perform a duet of “Notre Dame de Paris” together.
Stay tuned for all the action from Tirana, and if you still can’t get enough FiKing action, why not check out our poll? Vote for your favorite artist for tonight and in Semi 2 here!
