This year's Malta Song for Europe Festival will be moving to a much bigger venue - the Malta Fairs & Convention Centre, in Ta' Qali - eliminating the mad dash for tickets and long, shivering queues of fans the night before booking opens.
This is the second time the organisers are doing away with the tradition of holding the festival at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta. The first time was in 2003 when the festival was held under a temporary tent, also in Ta' Qali, that could take 4,000 people.
This time it promises to be bigger and better, and banking on the successful performance of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, the Maltasong board is eager to present a show similar to the ones witnessed on the Eurovision stage.
The MFCC can take 10,000 seated, compared to the 1,200 that can squeeze into the MCC, allowing the chance for more people to enjoy the show live on both nights - the semi-final on February 1 and the final on February 3.
Explaining the details, Maltasong chairman Robert Abela said that, in an attempt to cut through the red tape, the venue was up for grabs and an expression for interest was issued. One company, the one that runs MFCC, applied and submitted proposals.
Following last year's dismal performance, when Malta placed last at the Eurovision Song Contest in Greece, the Maltasong board took the decision to introduce a number of regulations to filter the diamond from the stones in the first two phases.
Sixteen songs have now been short-listed and the order in which each one will be performed was announced yesterday during a draw left in the hands of this year's hosts, Stephanie Spiteri and J. Anvil.
During the semi-final contest, the jury - made up of 50 per cent foreign judges and 50 per cent televoting - will choose six songs, which will make it to the final. The winning song will then be chosen exclusively by television viewers.
Mr Abela explained that this year the time slot for the televoting on both nights had once again been extended to half an hour, following complaints that last year's 10 minutes did not give viewers enough time.
However, while last year people could vote three times from the same phone number, this year people can only vote once from the same number, be it via a landline, mobile or SMS.
Mr Abela added that during the semi-final, the foreign judges will be watching the show on television, as opposed of watching it live.
"We have taken up this suggestion because primarily this is a television show and the majority of people choose their favourites songs depending on the way the performances are delivered on television. Secondly, we did not wish the judges to be influenced by what could be the over-enthusiasm of the crowd for particular songs," he said.
In an attempt to ensure that everything runs smoothly on both nights, Maltasong has also committed Public Broadcasting Services to engage an independent sound engineer.
"We wanted to do away with the usual phenomenon of who's to blame when something with the sound goes wrong. So PBS, as the broadcaster of the show, will be responsible for delivering good sound to people's homes on the night," he said.
Entertainment will be in the hands of the Yada dance company during the semi-final, while on the final night Fabrizio Faniello and Ruslana, winner of the 2004 Eurovision, promise to rock the crowd.
Tickets for both the semi-final and final will go on sale on Monday. More details on cost and ticket outlets will be announced later this week.
The contenders
The following are the 16 songs that will be performed in this order during the Malta Song for Europe Festival semi-final on February 1.
1. Whenever, singer Kevin Borg, composer Jason Paul Cassar, author Sunny Aquilina.
2. Night Wish, singer AnnaBelle Debono, composer Philip Vella, author Gerard James Borg.
3. Places To Go, composer and singer Tarcisio Barbara; author Vince Zammit.
4. L-Imhabba Ghamja (Love is Blind), singer and author Claudia Faniello, composers T. Fenech and A. Spiteri.
5. Roller-Coaster Ride, written, composed and sung by Rosman Pace.
6. Ice Queen, singer Julia Grima, composer Mark Spiteri Lucas, author Rita Pace.
7. Forever Mine, singer William Mangion, composer Aldo Spiteri, authors T. Fenech and A. Spiteri.
8. Vertigo, singer Olivia Lewis, composer Philip Vella, author Gerard James Borg.
9. She Gives me Wings, singer Klinsmann Coleiro, composer Mark Spiteri Lucas, author Rita Pace.
10. Look At Me, singer Julie Pomorsky, author and composer Philip Vella.
11. Little Islands in Your Heart, written, composed and sung by Daniela Delicata.
12. All About a Life, singer Pamela Bezzina, composer Paul Giordimaina, author Fleur Balzan.
13. As Long As You Know, written, composed and sung by Konrad Pulè.
14. My Love, singer Isabelle, composer Philip Vella, author Gerard James Borg.
15. Unite, singer Mauro, composer Augusto Cardinali, author Giovann Attard.
16. Starlight, singers Trilogy, composer Paul Abela, author Joe Julian Farrugia.