Come #JoinUs @Euroclub for a Wicked Wednesday!

Come and join the fun at EuroClub's Wicked Wednesday, round midnight.
Aarzeminieki will perform their Eurovision song on stage together with the artists from the Romanian entry Paula Seling and Ovi and probably many other fun acts.

Be there and be WICKED!

Win a Eurovision cake!

Now it's your chance to win a Eurovision cake from the amazing cake artists at Dessertdragen in Cakenhagen.
The cake will be delivered between 17-18 on Saturday May 3rd by Jöran from Aarzemnieki! 

To enter the competition you must go to Dessertdragens Facebook page and share the photo. Only residents in Copenhagen K, N, V and Ø cake enter.
What's not to cake?

Get your piece of Eurovision now!

Post by Dessertdragens kageværksted.

Greeting the Ambassador

The group greeted the Latvian Ambassador in Copenhagen on Tuesday 29th of April. They were treated to some lovely carrot cake and performed in the garden at the Latvian Embassy.

Here are some photos - you can see more at the group's Facebook page

 

First rehearsal, first meet'n'greet, first EuroClubbing

Yesterday Aarzemnieki had their first rehearsal at the B&W arena and it was the first time the press was given an impression of the staging for their song. It looked very nice and had a nice garden party atmosphere about it. These first rehearsals are mostly for cameras and technicalities, so there could still be changes made, we guess. Here's the clip Eurovision.tv made:



After the rehearsal the band met the large group of journalists and photographers at the press centre and politely answered all their questions. You can watch it here:



This Monday night was also the opening of EuroClub, which is held at Vega. There were several of this year's performers there - among them of course Jöran! Happy as ever and chatting to everyone. He also had a chat with our friend DQ who represented Denmark in Eurovision Song Contest 2007, and they already made plans about performing together in the special "Champagne Lounge", where DQ will be entertaining accredited press, artists and fans every night for the next weeks. To conclude: a great first day!

Presentation of Aarzemnieki: Guntis

Last but certainly not least is the multi-instrumentalist Guntis, who also composed "Cake To Bake". Find out where the phenomenon space cake fits into the picture and what word he'd never say. We present Guntis!

Guntis

Age:
38, and not married.

Instrument:
Guitar, saxophone and piano.

Work/profession:
Musician, composer and employee at a casting agency for films and advertising.

If I was a cake, which cake would I be and why?
At the moment it's cake cake cake, all the time! So it's hard to answer. Right now I will say... a space cake!

When I'm not standing on a Eurovision stage, I'm….?
Just a man like everyone in the street. When I'm wearing my hat people recognises me in the street, but when I take it off I'm just ordinary.

A special/funny/weird/awkward musical moment I've had:
Once in school my teacher wanted me to take part in a music contest, but I didn't want to, but then I was told I couldn't finish the class if I didn't. I didn't practise a lot for that, so, when I was playing I suddenly forgot what I should play, and just started improvising for 7 minutes or something. Afterwards my teacher left without saying anything to me! But then the next day they told me I got 3rd place! That was funny and weird, but not sure I deserved the prize.

A person I would like to meet:
I don't have a special or famous person I'd like to meet. I like ordinary people who don't pretend to be something they aren't.

Something I would never do:
I would never say "never".

My favourite Eurovision song:
I don't know. There are many songs, but I can't choose one.
(Bonus info: Jöran told us Guntis really likes to play the saxophone part in "Der står et billede af dig på mit bord").

Aarzemnieki has reached Copenhagen!

It's hip to be square(d)!

Aarzemnieki is not that foreign any more! Today we finally met Team CakeToBake. The energy and excitement meter was full and we all needed to jump together - so we did. If you would had been @ the City Hall Square around 21:00-ish you would have experienced it first hand. We also have a video surprise coming up later (as in, maybe tomorrow). Tomorrow the band is going to have their first rehearsal at B&W, and right after meet'n'greet with the press. Be there or be square.

WELCOME TO COPENHAGEN, dear friends from Latvia!

 

Last venue before it becomes the real venue

Tomorrow this big, grey but yet festive box of surprises will become THE box to be in if you're in Copenhagen. (This box is not to be confused with "Boxen" in Herning. That's really a totally utterly completely different box you don't want to be at tomorrow) Because this box is going to be the center piece of all boxes, when it's going to welcome the first ESC participants for their first rehearsal in the light of the staged box. Can't wait! Today there's not a lot to see, but from tomorrow we'll all be like fat cats in a box.

Where to go when you're hungry for more!

In just two days the Eurovision weeks begin! And that also means that there will be many hungry party monsters looking for a place to go after the ESC clubs closes. 2Pixies has already started posting tips to "Where to go - Who to know", and today it's all about FOOD during night time! 

Copenhagen is famous for their many Shawarma shops. They are on almost every corner and many of them stays open till late.

If you are hungry for Lebanese/Turkish BBQ we can recommend BEYTI restaurant @ Blågårdsgade 1, Copenhagen N. They are open all night.

If you are more into Japanese then Kung Fu Izakaya Bar @ Sundevedsgade 5, Copenhagen V is the place to go. They are open until 4:00.

If you want to try Danish food, Rio Bravo is surly ready to serve you many Danish traditional dishes. Try the dish "Stegt flæsk med persillesovs" - Fried pork with parsley sauce and potatoes. They are open till 5:00 and you'll find them on the corner of Vester Voldgade 86 and Stormgade, Copenhagen V.

If FISH is your flavour of the day, you should visit Kødbyens Fiskebar. The kitchen closes at 1:00 but the place is open till 2:00. The restaurant is one of the best fish-restaurants in Copenhagen. Their address is Flæsketorvet 100, Copenhagen V - smack in the middle of the popular hipster neighbourhood in Copenhagen. Maybe combine your visit there with a visit to one of the many bars located there.

That's all for now. Enjoy!

Presentation of Aarzemnieki: Raitis

The small presentation of the band members in the Latvian band Aarzemnieki has now come to the percussion playing Raitis. Find out what he was doing in a boxing ring, what phone he would never buy and what he would like to do in India. Read all of his answers here below!

Raitis Viļumovs

Age: 21.

Instrument:
Percussion.

Work/profession:
Student, teacher and musician.

If I was a cake, which cake would I be and why?
I'd be a marble cake, because we're on our way to Denmark!

When I'm not standing on a Eurovision stage, I'm….?
I'm standing on some other stage.

A special/funny/weird/awkward musical moment I've had:
Playing in a boxing ring.

A person I would like to meet:
Damon Albarn, my favourite musician and songwriter.

Something I would like to achieve:
Teach percussion in India.

Something I appreciate:
Kindnes.

Something I would never do:
Get an iPhone.

My favourite Eurovision song:
No idea.

Next stop Euro Village & Euro Fan Cafe!

2Pixies have been on a quest to visit and test the Eurovision Venues before they become venues. 

Next stop on the 2Pixies tour round Copenhagen is Nytorvet. The address for the upcoming Euro Village. Right now it's the playground for the pigeons, but this time next week it will be transformed into a cheerful Eurovision village with a grand stage ready for various performers. What is on their programme is yet to be revealed, but you can bet your a.... that there will be several acts from the competing countries. 

The huge question is... Will there be room enough for dancing and waving/kicking with arms & legs in the attempt of looking like a gorgeous backing singer?? - Well! 2Pixies think so and have already tried it and had our applause! So bring your pompoms and be ready for a great show.      

If you get tired of performing you can always relax on one of the city benches.

Just around the corner from the Euro Village is the venue for the Euro Fan Cafe. It's located in Huset-KBH, Rådhusstræde 13. For now it's a cultural event house with weekly concerts and performing arts on their programme. Next week it will be something completely different.

This is the place to go if you want to have a bag full of Eurovision treats. There will be performances from the competing countries and many former Eurovision artists will pop by for a surprise visit. There are also made big plans for pop-quizes, talk shows with Eurovision personalities and parties with Eurovision DJ’s. You will find the programme on Huset-KBHs website.

AND BAAAAAM! While writing this blog, visitcopenhagen.com just published the programme for the Eurovision weeks. Go and seek it HERE.

Jöran surprises Basim with a Danish song medley

Jöran Steinhauer took the Danish artist Basim by surpise when he gave him a delicious treat by performing a medley of songs by Kim Larsen & Poul Køller in perfect pronounced Danish. 

Presentation of Aarzemnieki: Jöran

We're back with the second presentation interview and this time we present lead singer Jöran. Find out what cake he'd be, if he was a cake, and why he'd like to meet his mother.

Jöran

Nick: Jorans, Jö.

Age: 27.

Instrument:
Strings attached and vocals.

Work/profession:
Being myself, as good as I can.

If I was a cake, which cake would I be and why?
This cake has still to be baken ;)

When I'm not standing on a Eurovision stage, I'm….?
Pretty happy at the moment.

A special/funny/weird/awkward musical moment I've had:
The first english song I could ever sing by heart completely was a totally unknown song by a not really successful boyband. But I still love it! It's called Someone Like You by Worlds Apart.

A person I would like to meet:
Reinhard Mey, Billy Joel, my mom (haven't seen her for a while).

Something I would like to achieve:
The ESC final for Latvia and some happy faces in the audience during our song. Above that I really hope we'll get the chance to record our first album.

Something I appreciate:
All the small things that encourage me walking step by step on and on day by day.

Something I would never do:
Regret the things I've ever done for love.

My favourite Eurovision song:
Katrina & The Waves - Love Shine A Light.

Presentation of Aarzemnieki: Katrīna

In the upcoming weeks until the Eurovision officially starts and before everyone will be arriving in Copenhagen, we will give a small presentation of the band members in the Latvian band Aarzemnieki.

First up is Katrīna, who we've learned previously has sung with world star Bobby FcFerrin, and appreciates life in all its senses. Read all of her answers here and get to know her a little better.

Katrīna Dimanta

Age: 23.

Instrument:
Violin on the stage (but I can also play chello, accordion, alto etc.).

Work/profession:
Musician and receptionist at hotel.

If I was a cake, which cake would I be and why?
I would be some cake with surprise. Because I am full of surprises.

When I'm not standing on a Eurovision stage, I'm….?
I am having fun and enjoying life.

A special/funny/weird/awkward musical moment I've had:
Lovely moment – On my 18th birthday I had a concert and to this concert there came around 70 of my friends and surprised me. And also very special moment for me is when I sang a bit together with Bobby McFerrin.

A person I would like to meet:
If I could travel back in past, then I would love to meet Freddie Mercury.

Something I would like to achieve:
I would like to travel all over the world with performing acts for nice people, who like my way of doing things.

Something I appreciate:
I appreciate life in all it senses.

Something I would never do:
I would never eat 100 cakes in the same time.

My favourite Eurovision song:
I fell in love with “Fairytale” by lovely Alexander Rybak since the first time I heard it in the end of 2008.