Liverpool ‘bingo rave’ venue Bongo’s Bingo will see two previous Eurovision winners performing on stage the night before the contest comes to Liverpool. Tony McDonough reports
Former members of Buck’s Fizz and Katrina of Katrina & The Waves will perform at Bongo’s Bingo in Liverpool during Eurovision weekend.
It was announced in October that Liverpool was to be this year’s host of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, May 13. It was originally due to take place in Ukraine but was cancelled following the Russian invasion.
Eurovision will take place at the M&S Bank Arena on the waterfront. And Bongo’s Bingo at Cains Brewery Village in the Baltic Triangle will join in the celebrations by offering performances by two previous winners on the night before as well as a ‘watch-a-long’ on the night itself.
Buck’s Fizz won Eurovision in 1981, performing their smash hit Making Your Mind Up. Three of the four original line-up, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston, now tour as The Fizz. They will perform at Bongo’s Bingo on Friday, May 12.
On the same night the venue will welcome Katrina Leskanich formerly of Katrina & The Waves.
They won the contest in 1997 with Love Shine a Light. The band had already had a big hit with Walking On Sunshine. However, their victory was seen as controversial as Katrina is a US national.
Jonny Bongo said: “As soon as Liverpool got the nod to host Eurovision, we wanted to do something special to honour this incredible event coming to the city.
“It’s a mammoth couple of weeks leading to the actual final and knowing hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world are coming here is absolutely class. So this is our contribution to the magic of Eurovision.
READ MORE: Liverpool to hold ‘Eurovision’ cultural festival
“Two previous UK winners, The Fizz and Katrina formerly of Katrina & The Waves and – performing live on stage and The Fizz won’t be anywhere else in Liverpool that weekend. It’s going to be a crazy party and we’re so happy that Eurovision royalty are coming to the show.
“And on the following day, ticket proceeds from our Eurovision Watch-A-Long party on Saturday, May 13, will be donated to the UNICEF Ukraine Crisis Appeal.”
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 31, at 5pm for credit holders and 6pm general sale at www.bongosbingo.co.uk