Laura Rizzotto, this year’s Latvian representative in the Eurovision Song Contest, will be taking part in the International Jazz Artist Contest at Riga Jazz Stage from April 4 – 7.
The International Jazz Artist Contest consists of two categories: Jazz Vocal and Jazz Bass. Four Latvian artists in total will compete over the two categories, three in Jazz Vocal (including Laura Rizzotto) and one in Jazz Bass. Laura Rizzotto will not be the only competing act with a connection to Eurovision. Laura Põldvere, who represented Estonia in 2005 and 2017, will also be competing in the Jazz Vocal cateogry.
Riga Jazz Stage was founded in 2004 and has been a platform for upcoming jazz artists. Intars Busulis, who represented Latvia in 2009, is a former winner of the festival. The contestants will perform in a live concert on April 5. After this, the jury will choose the best jazz vocalist and bassists for the Final concert on April 6. The winners will be announced at the Gala concert on April 7.
There will also be a public prize. Fans can vote for their favourite artists until April 5 by registering on the official website of Riga Jazz Stage. Fans can vote twice a day – one for each category. The results will be published online on April 7.
Laura Rizzotto will represent Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song “Funny Girl”. She will perform in the second half of the second semi-final on May 10th.
Source: Riga Jazz Stage
Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Latvia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000, being the last of the Baltic nations to join the contest. On their debut, Brainstorm finished in 3rd place with the song “My Star”. Latvia won the contest for the first and only time in 2002, with Marie N’s “I Wanna”. Latvia only participated in 2002 thanks to the withdrawal of Portugal from the contest, as Latvia’s poor result in 2001 had relegated them from the 2002 contest. Latvia struggled in to the contest after 2002, failing to qualify for the final for six years between 2009 and 2014. In 2015 and 2016 Latvia has finished 6th and 15th in the final respectively.
