By Aline Mahrud
WHEN/WHERE?: Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast Saturday 26 February 2022
HOW DO I WATCH?: Watch on SBS
Australia should be proud that 2022’s 11-song Eurovision selection show Australia Decides boasts 1 of the strongest line ups in any such process this year.
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 19 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Last week’s direct finalists were both previous Melodifestivalen competitors but this week we predict 2 new artists will go direkt till finalen.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
Goldfrapp’s last album was 2017’s Silver Eye and so singer Alison Goldfrapp’s feature on this new single by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp is more than welcome.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN/WHERE?: Saturday 19 February 2022, H3 Arena, Fornebu
HOW DO I WATCH?: NRK
Last year’s Melodi Grand Prix was very much a 2-horse race between TIX and KEIINO but 2022’s line-up is much more open with any number of possible winners.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Saturday 12 February (matinee), runs to 19 March 2022
It’s Steven’s birthday, he’s in a restaurant with his partner and their best friends – and a secret is uncovered.
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 12 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Last week Robin Bengtsson went direkt till finalen but we predicted little else right with the 3 eliminated acts all having MF history and the newcomers doing well at their expense.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
We last saw Charli XCX live at the 02 Brixton Academy when she was supported by Rina Sawayama and so this collaboration feels more organic than some duets sometimes do.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN?: 26 February 2022
HOW DO I WATCH? YLE
Finland performed far better than we expected in 2021 when rock group Blind Channel finished 6th and in 2022 they have a diverse 7-song final including The Rasmus who had a worldwide hit in 2003 with In The Shadows.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Thursday 3 February (matinee), running to 5 March RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
Zmitrowicz made our Best Theatre Actress shortlist in 2020 for The Welkin at the National and during her impressive body of work we have already described her as ‘captivating in a role that we felt should have been better explored’ by the author.
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 5 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
The biggest story in this 1st heat is arguably the return of 2017 winner Robin Bengtsson who has taken part in Melodifestivalen 3 times (2016, 2017 and 2020) always going Direkt Till Finalen.
