Eric Papilaya and his team met the fans and press in Ekberg Cafe in Helsinki this morning offering songs and Viennese cafe atmosphere with information on Life Ball Aids Charity topped with a special Sachertorte. They were pleased to see so many people attending the 11am party. Esctoday.com team was there, too.

What a nice way to start a morning! The excitement in Helsinki is rising before today afternoon's first dress rehearsal for the semi final but a very relaxed and good humoured Austrian entrant Eric Papilaya and his team welcomed guests into this well know cafe in Helsinki.

Before the Sachertorte and the songs we were given information on the "Life Ball goes Song contest" project and Life Ball, the Europe's biggest Aids charity event, in general. Eric also gave a cheque of 4.800 euros to the organisation collected here. The Austrian entry this year is also the organisation's main event's title song on May 26 in Vienna's City Hall. Last year they collected over 1,1 million euros for Aids research in this event.

Then he kicked off his little acoustic gig with Hard rock hallelujah followed with other songs including his entry Get a life – Get alive.