Eurovision fan fare
Music lover opens up about his ‘obsession’
ABERDEEN cabbie Kevin Sherwin has a passion for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Over the last 24 years he has travelled across Europe to take in the annual event.
Kevin has somehow managed to sit through more than 650 performances and he keeps going back for more. He clearly deserves a medal – for endurance.
A CABBIE who has clocked up 35,000 miles travelling to Eurovision finals has spoken of his “obsession” with the song contest.
Kevin Sherwin has witnessed more than 650 live performances since first attending the event in 1994.
Since then, the Aberdeen taxi driver missed only one Eurovision final – Baku in 2012 – because he didn’t have the funds to travel to Azerbaijan.
Superfan Kevin said: “It all started in 1994 at the Point Depot in Dublin.
“In those days it was still black tie, so I had to hire a dinner suit and the women an evening dress.
“Today, it’s not uncommon for the men to turn up in an evening dress. How times have changed.” Kevin, who has seen gorillas, turkeys and pirates join in the many quirky performances, said his love of the contest goes back to his childhood.
The 57-year-old revealed: “I’ve always loved it, even in the old black and white days. “Back then, we never had YouTube. Every year it got to be more of an obsession.” Over the years, he got to snap selfies with the likes of Terry Wogan, Graham Norton and Jedward. Kevin said: “Jedward are the nicest ALL DRESSED UP Kevin at the 1995 contest
people I’ve ever met. They are so lovely. Yes, they are off their heads but they are really nice people.
“They are so clean cut – they don’t smoke, drink or do drugs.”
He also met Swiss singer Lys Assia, the winner of the first contest in 1956.
And in recent years, he has acted as the Romanian entries’ English language correspondent.
Kevin, who often plays his favourite Eurovision hits in his cab, said: “I’ve been to a range of places, including Istanbul, Moscow and Helsinki.
“But I’d say my favourite city I’ve been to is the capital of Ukraine, Kiev.
“It’s so cheap, you can have two meals in a restaurant for £5.”
Kevin, who will be in Lisbon tomorrow night for this year’s final, is tipping Alexander Rybak – who won the competition in Moscow in 2009 – to win a fourth title for Norway.
But he reckons English singersongwriter SuRie, who will represent the UK, will easily avoid getting the dreaded “nul points”.
Kevin said: “I think she will do very well and I think she will definitely be in the top 10. She looks like a young Annie Lennox.”