POP spectacular Party in the Dark just keeps getting bigger and the Evening Star can today announce that two more Pop Idols have been added to the bill.

By Jo Macdonald

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By Jo Macdonald

joanne.macdonald@eveningstar.co.uk

POP spectacular Party in the Dark just keeps getting bigger and the Evening Star can today announce that two more Pop Idols have been added to the bill.

Joining headliners Liberty X and a host of other top pop acts, including S Club Juniors, 911, 3SL, allSTARS and fellow Pop Idol finalists Hayley Evetts and Korben, will be Rik Waller and Jessica Garlick.

They will take to the stage at Ipswich Corn Exchange on August 9 and add an extra sparkle to a show that is already a veritable feast of music.

Jessica is not only famous for having reached the final ten in the phenomenally successful ITV show but she also represented the UK in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Her performance of the song Come Back, judged by many including Terry Wogan to be our best entry for a number of years, achieved joint third place in the competition with Estonia, beaten only by Malta and Latvia.

The song also debuted in the top ten, securing the 20-year-old Welsh singer her first chart hit.

Meanwhile Rik has achieved fame as much for his size and opinions as for his music.

The 20-stone star was forced to pull out of Pop Idol due to a throat infection but with the backing of people who believed his size should not effect his ability to become a popstar and that his vocal talent should shine, he went on to achieve chart success all the same.

His first single, a cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, was a top ten hit. The follow up, Something Inside So Strong, faired less well and his debut album, From Now, only just made the top 100, but Rik is still focused on achieving his musical dream.

And he is not averse to taking the odd verbal swipe at Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell.

These two Pop Idol stars are the latest names to be added to a line-up that is already overflowing with pop.

Fresh from their appearance at Radio 1's One Big Sunday in Chantry Park, Liberty X will be returning for a longer, headlining performance.

Other well known chart acts on the bill are chart topping boyband 911, brothers 3SL, TV and music stars, allSTARS and S Club Juniors.

Hayley Evetts and Korben make up the rest of the Pop Idol contingent and there are a number of up and coming acts ready to join the more established stars come August 9. These include Blazin' Squad, who recently toured a number of Suffolk schools and locally based crew Alliance.

Others preparing to join the Party in the Dark musical extravaganza are Evidence, Boysterous, Bless'd, Charli, Rebekka Gayle, Felony, 4-Play and Rachel White.

n Party in the Dark, in association with the Evening Star and SGR FM, is coming to Ipswich Corn Exchange on August 9. Tickets are on sale now priced £20 and are available from the central box office, Princes Street, Ipswich, by calling 01473 433100 or online at www.ipswich-ents.co.uk

n Keep reading the Evening Star for competitions and to find out how you could be questioning the stars.