OGAE UK AND LIVERPOOL
The Eurocafe was very popular
Jemini reunited!
from doing the social media updates, to press releases. I’d also like to thank Mark Bowerman for pulling together a great Euroclub website at a moment’s notice! Everyone pulled together, and all the teams at Camp & Furnace were a pleasure to work with. While all this was going on, I was working on some of the other aspects of the fan experience. After an afternoon walking around various bars of Liverpool (it’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it….) I settled upon The Peacock as the venue for the daytime Eurocafe. Again, I don’t think they quite knew what they were letting themselves in for, but they embraced their role with enthusiasm. There was also work with Mersey Ferries to secure an exclusive ferry cruise for OGAE members, there was working with the Museum to have use of their space, producing the Euroclub polo shirts, the list goes on…. Eurovision fortnight was soon upon us, and time to see whether all our meticulous planning and panicked staring at spreadsheets (oh **** I
think I’ve forgotten to include the accommodation costs for [enter name here]) would be worth it.We got things warmed up with three days of meet & greets at Camp & Furnace. Despite this being a pretty short-notice event, and before many of the fans had actually arrived, turnout was still good, and I’d like to thank co-hosts Simon and Dean for excellent chairing.With a bit of modification I hope this is something that OGAE is able to be involved with in future years, as it was well received by many of the fan press and the acts. BLUR As for the rest of the week…well after the doors opened for Euroclub on the first Friday evening, through until the moment we stumbled out into the morning sunshine (and a McDonald’s breakfast that became the unofficial after-after-party) following final night, the week passed in a bit of a blur. The acts did their turn, the crowds packed the Euroclub (were you Team Camp, Team Furnace, or were you Team….&),
the 3.00am bratwursts and supplies of Lonkero kept the fans happy, the sun (mostly) shone on Eurocafe, the tech (mostly) worked for Sean’s fab Euroquiz, the Euroferry sailed. I want to take this opportunity to put on the record some thank yous – to Vaughan, Simon, and the boards of OGAE UK and OGAE International for great collaboration. To all the acts and DJs. To Paul, Greta, Jack, Shirley and everyone at Camp & Furnace (some of whom are now OGAE members!) for being the most amazing venue to work with. To Maureen and the team at The Peacock. And of course to everyone on the hosting committee for all your hard work and good humour – John B, Nathan, Mario, Jack, Catherine, John L, Dean, Jane and Christian. And thank you to everyone who came along to enjoy the experience. Let’s hope we did OGAE UK proud! ■
Alasdair with Jedward. Alasdair is the one in the middle.
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AUTUMN 2023 l VISION
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