Schoolchildren have been invited to attend the Maltasong dress rehearsal today week and make as much noise as possible - to have fun and to give contestants the feeling of a live audience.

The children would also be educated in the history of recorded music in Malta dating back to the 1930s. They could also meet former Maltasong winners, Claire Thake Vassallo, PBS chairman in charge of Maltas participation said.

For the first time this year, fans are being given the opportunity to buy premium, instead of normal tickets.

The premium ticket costs €25 over and above the entrance tickets, which range from €10 to €25, giving holders access to the whole experience, including the Green Room, fast entry, easy parking and the after party.

The filming of the concert, Ms Thake said, will be more high-tech this year to give viewers at home a better television show.

Voting will start at 11.40 p.m. will last 45 minutes. The vote will be 50 per cent jury, 50 per cent audience. There will not be a super-final but the audience and viewers at home would see the results unfold, as is done in the Eurovision.

The concept of the website award is also being introduced. People can vote for their preferred song at maltaeurosong.com . The song obtaining the highest number of votes will win over €1,000 worth of web services.