Georgian contenders of 2018 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), members of Ethnic Jazz Band “Iriao” held the first rehearsal on stage of Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Georgian entry song “For You” was welcomed by bookmakers. According to ESC official webpage, Iriao was founded in Tbilisi in 2013. The group’s name is derived from a phrase, “Iriao-uruao” which comes the famous yodeling singing style “Krimanchuli” of Georgian traditional polyphonic music.

Iriao’s distinct repertoire is based around authentic folk music though its goal is not to modernize unique Georgian polyphonic music – recognized internationally by UNESCO as a masterpiece of oral immaterial heritage – but to saturate and adorn it with jazz elements.

Over the years Iriao has been invited in 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 Baltics.

Georgian contenders will undergo through rehearsal on May 5 as well. “Iriao” will perform in the second semi-final of the popular musical competition.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2018 will be the 63rd edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It will take at Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal, and will consist of two semi-finals on 8 and 10 May and a final on 12 May 2018. Forty-Three countries will take part in 2018 ESC.