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Destination Lisbon (#37): Meet Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao from Georgia

22 April 2018 at 09:00 CEST
Iriao represents Georgia at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest Giorgi Tsaava
In the 37th part of 'Destination Lisbon', our feature counting down to the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, we get to know Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao who will represent Georgia with the song 'For You'.

In January, broadcaster GPB announced that ethno-jazz band Iriao will represent Georgia in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. Read more..Β 

Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao will perform the song For You. They recently travelled to Portugal to record their postcard for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest:Β 

Iriao is an ethno-fusion band founded in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2013. The group's name is derived from the phrase β€œIriao-uruao” which comes from the traditional Georgian singing style Krimanchuli. The band’s repertoire is based on Georgian polyphonic music and harmony, saturated with jazz and modern music elements. Band leader David Malazonia was one of the first composers introducing this music genre in Georgia.Β 

Iriao’s debut performance took place in 2013 in Tbilisi and the group has since gained international recognition. Over the years Iriao has been invited to a number of important musical festivals around the globe. The band has performed at the Java Jazz Festival in Indonesia, Borneo Jazz Festival in Malaysia, Alfa Jazz Festival in Ukraine and other festivals in Austria, Poland and the Baltic countries.

At the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest we will get to know five members of the group Iriao: Lead vocalists Mikheil Javakhishvili, George Abashidze, Bidzina Murgulia. Bassplayer Shalva Gelekva and percussionist Levan Abshilava.

The preparations for Iriao are well underway as they performed an acoustic version of their Eurovision entry For You with participants of Ranina, the Georgian national selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest:

The band also travelled to Israel to attent the preparty Israel Calling. For this special occasion Iriao prepaired a Jewish lullaby:

Let's get social!Β 

You can follow Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao on the following social media platform: Β 

You can hear more of the group's music on Soundcloud.

Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao will represent Georgia in the second Semi-Final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon on the 10th of May. Β Β Β 

What do you think of Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao's For You? Leave your review in the comments below Β