THEME STAGE LOCATION
press conference no. 2
Ready for some updates? We are half-way through the applications period, kinda, and we have 11 songs and 13 countries confirmed up to date. While we're waiting for more juicy entries, let's learn some more Griffin and see what venue have you chosen.
TËMMÄ [te̞:m:ə] theme
As our primary means of expressing ourselves to the people around us, language can have a deep impact on how we interact with the world and even sometimes on how we think. The theme for this edition is just one word. This word doesn’t share an English equivalent, and ex
hibit just a tiny sample of the amazing nuances that language can posses. It was the best way to describe how much diverse is our beloved contest and to wish it to keep evolving, diversifying and reinventing itself.
L'BINPIOZA [lʔbinpio:za] stage
It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's the stage! Inspired by the plane in the epic Dragostea Din Tei video, the stage features led screens that are positioned that way so it looks like it has wings. Bob Barnhart and his team from
22 Degrees Entertainment Lighting Group in
Kralingslæting, as well as the crew from
PRG, did an incredible job with the lighting design. Check out the lighting plots and gear list for this mega song contest, and
read our in-depth interview with Barnhart on the lighting design.
Don't be confused that the stage has already been set up, the exact location of the festival has been known to us for some time, so we have already decided to set it up and keep it a secret. And the first pre-rehearsals have already started!
HAPNUNGPLATS [hapnungplat͡s ] location
Now, where is that stage at? Where are we going to? You had the right to vote, and with your decision, we proudly present to you the location and host city of the next WLSC -
Mare Incatato, the capital of the Meremaa principality.
The third largest city in Griffin Empire, Mare Incatato is both the largest trading port in the country and the second in Western Natia. With a population of 1.720.942, it is quite different from fashionable tourist centers such as Tevs, Salta, Hjemtilëiyl, Frësit, Sagnrafa, Sagnmaxa and Sagntrappä. Mare Incatato has all the characteristics of a metropolis, but the Mediterranean atmosphere is ubiquitous, and the historic center of the city abounds in buildings of impressive architecture.
What to see in Mare Incatato?
- Gemöphool Avenue is the main city artery in the old part of the city, 1 km long, stretching from the Old Port (Altõdiska portet) to the Umbæturings district.
- Altõdiska portet is located in the historic center, and for tourists, a particularly attractive event is the fish market that is held there during the day. The old port was founded by the ancient Griffinians in 600 AD, when they established a trading post.
- The Opera House has long been the most famous building in Mare Incatato - it was built at the end of the 18th century, in the style in which operas were built in other Griffin cities such as Hermýn and Pyetsit. In 1919, the building was almost completely destroyed in a fire, but was successfully reconstructed in the Art Deco style.
- Kirkja ot brõõdermanhuafft is a huge church, located on a hill above the city center, which offers the most beautiful view of Mare Incatato. Boat wrecks can be seen around the church, because fishermen used to bring boats here to consecrate them before going fishing.
And finally, the venue -
MareStadiumi (stylized version of Mare Stadijümi), is a multi-purpose stadium a home to the Olimpia football club since it opened in 1937, and was a venue in the 1998 Natia World Cup, the 2007 Natia Rugby World Cup and the Western Natia Football Cup 2016. It is the largest club football ground in Griffin Empire, with a capacity of 67,394 spectators. The stadium is also used regularly by the Griffin national rugby union team. The main problem in the bidding phase was the lack of a retractable roof, but it was later added to the building. This will be the biggest venue ever to host a Waiting List Song Contest and the capacity for the contest will be 38,000.
K I M M Y S T A N 
