Alternative Eurovision Second Chance Song Contest 29

The **Alternative** **Eurovision Second Chance Song Contest 29** was the 8th edition of the Alternative Eurovision Second Chance Song Contest. The contest was held in  Austria , following the country's victory in the seventh edition with the song "All is New" by Lizki. It was the first time that Austria hosted the contest. The live show was hosted by Christl, Michael Russ and Tamara Mascara in the Wiener Stadthalle.

The aim of the competition is to give artists who failed to win national selections a second chance and to give them a chance to feel the atmosphere of the main contest. The 8th edition of Second Chance allowed participants who didn't win their respective national finals in #29 to compete.

## Venue - Wiener Stadthalle

**Wiener Stadthalle** (English: *Viennese City Hall*) is a multi-purpose indoor arena and convention center located in the 15th district of Vienna, Austria. Austrian architect Roland Rainer designed the original halls which were constructed between 1953 and 1958, and later expanded in 1974, 1994 and 2006. The main hall, a multi-purpose venue, is Austria's largest indoor arena with a seating capacity of approximately 16,152 people.

Since 2006, the complex has housed six main venues (each of which can be used separately or combined) consisting of two gymnasiums, an indoor ice rink, large-capacity indoor arena, a small multi-purpose hall, an auditorium with a show stage, and an adjacent swimming pool. It serves as a venue for a variety of events, including concerts, exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences, lectures, theatre, TV and sports.

The Wiener Stadthalle is a subsidiary of Wien Holding and stages more than 350 events each year that attract around one million visitors. Halls A, B and C, as well as the Stadthallenbad, are managed by the Viennese sports venues corporation GmbH.

## Hosts - Michael Russ, Christl & Tamara Mascara

**Michael Russ** is an Austrian singer. Born in Styria, Austria, Michael had performed with various bands since the age of 14. With the beginning of 2014 he startet publishing his first songs together with his band The Rootups. Some years later he decided to participate in the TV-Show The Voice of Germany, where he already convinced all four judges, with his own interpretation of the worldwide hit Perfect, at the blind audition. Together with Mark Forster as his coach, he made it to the semi finals, impressing the audience with Michael Jacksons The Way You Make Me Feel. After that he focused on his music and released his first Single DNA. He represented Austria in the Alternative Eurovision Song Contest #28 with the song "Animal".

**Christl** is an Austrian singer-songwriter. She represented Austria in the Alternative Eurovision Song Contest #24 with the song "Object of Desire".

**Tamara Mascara** (born November 15, 1987) is an Austrian DJ, fashion designer, presenter and one of the best known Austrian drag queens. Tamara Mascara grew up in Vienna, Austria. At an early age she took ballet training at the Vienna State Opera. Later she graduated from a fashion school at the Schloss Hetzendorf. Her career as a DJ started at the legendary *Heaven Vienna*, the longest running House music clubbing in Vienna. Since 2011 she is co-founder, co-organizer and artistic director for *The Circus*, the biggest LGBT-party in Austria.

 At the 59th Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen Mascara was the Make-up artist for Conchita Wurst representing Austria who won the competition. She also was part of the Austrian postcard, a recording that introduces each country before their performances. Beginning in the end of 2016, Mascara started a YouTube channel, themed mostly around Cosmetics and Drag. In 2018 she launched her own eyelash collection. As a testimonial for an open and LGBT-friendly Vienna she often collaborates with the Vienna Tourist Board, and visits cities and Christopher Street Days around the world, like in Tokyo or Rome. She was also candidate in the 13th edition of Austria's Dancing Stars show, she was partnered with Dimitar Stefanin. Mascara is, after Courtney Act who took part in the Australian version of the show, only the second drag queen to compete in the BBC Worldwide's international *Dancing with the Stars* franchise. Despite high scores from the judges she was eliminated in the second episode.