EuroVisionary.com - Everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest - We welcome the 2009 Contest in Moscow

The first semifinal in the Albanian Festival I Këngës has been presented. It was only a presenting procedure, no results will be announced. Twenty songs performed.

The Albanian National Final called Festivali i Këngës starts Friday evening. The show includes two semifinals and a final during the next three days.20 acts competes to get to represent the country at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Moscow.

The Austrian broadcaster, ORF, has confirmed that Austria will not be taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow next year. After competing in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Austria continues to not take part in the contest, with the exception of 2007.

The EBU reference group have been meeting in Moscow to discuss various aspects of the 2009 contest. As well as confirming Moscow as the host city for 2009, changes have been made to the voting in the final.

Hello and welcome in to EuroVisionary's live coverage of what looks set to be one of the closet fought finals in may years.  We'll be covering all tonight's proceedings with a blow by blow account.  I think it's safe to say that we're in for an exciting evening.

With only one last rehearsal of the full show remaining 25 countries are ready to each do their best tonight in order to bring the trophy and the honour back to their specific country. The number of likely winners seems higher than in recent years.

The song 'Follow me' cannot be replaced by 'Zamira'. The band, New Effect, who sing this song declined the invitation because they have concerts on the same date as the Romanian Final (23rd Feb)

With the Romanian final due to be held this coming Staurday there is a change in the line-up. Two of the songs that were due to take part have been withdrawn from the competition. 

The night of the Slovene final was truly a night to remember.  A very "tight" battle between Rebeka Dremelj and Skupina Langa ended with Rebeka winning the "ticket" to Belgrade.