The 2011 edition of the San Remo Song Festival kicks off tonight. The Song Festival will run from tonight until Saturday night. The Italian musical extravaganza will be aired live on RAI Uno at 21:10 CET. The 2011 Italian Eurovision Song Contest representative will be chosen from the competing candidates at this contest and will be announced during the Saturday gala. It may come from either the artists or newcomers category.

Many former Italian Eurovision representatives have either participated or won the San Remo Song Festival. The 61st edition of the San Remo Song Festival will be hosted by Gianni Morandi, Belen Rodriguez and Elisabeth Cannalis. The show will be held at the Teatro Ariston, in the Italian city of San Remo. Gianni Morandi is a former Eurovision participant as he represented Italy at the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest in Amsterdam with the song Occhi di ragaza, placing 8th.

Former Italian Eurovision representatives will be competing at the San Remo Song Festival galas scheduled to be held between the 15th-19th of February: Franco Battiato (Italy 1990), Al Bano (Italy 1976/1985), Anna Oxa (Italy 1989), Luca Barbarossa (Italy 1988). Italian X Factor winner Nathalie will also be competing at the San Remo Song Festival.

A total of fourteen acts will compete with their songs in the "Big"category(this year called "Artists"):Al Bano, Luca Barbarossain duet with Raquel del Rosario, Giusy Ferreri, La Crus, Luca Madonia feat. Franco Battiato, Modà feat. Emma Brown, Nathalie Giannitrapani, Anna Oxa, Max Pezzali, Patty Pravo, Anna Tatangelo, Francesco Tricarico, Davide Van De Sfroos and Roberto Vecchioni.

On Thursday, February the17th, theSan RemoSong Festivalnight willentirely bededicated to the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy. Each of the competingartists will perform asong of their choice, a popularItalian melody which is both famous and acclaimed and enjoys recognition in Italian music history.

The San Remo Song Festival will be aired live on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 21:10 CET on Rai 1, Rai1Italy andRaiInternational(via satellite Hotbird and Astra).