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A range of afternoon and evening of events has been planned for Derby's Market place on August 24th, featuring bands, musicians and other artists from Derby and Derbyshire. And it'll all culminate in a special appearance from Australian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi.

The Australian songstress, best known for debut single 'Sweet About Me', will be delighting crowds on Derby's Market Place.

She told ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Derby's Aleena Naylor: "We're just going to set up on stage and have a good time. My band is pretty tight now so hopefully it should go smoothly.

"I've not decided if 'Sweet About Me' will be the final song but there will definitely be a few tracks off the album and a few cover versions.

"It's going to be pretty cool to be involved in a moment of history. I've never really seen anything like this before."

Neverland

Derby's Celtic rockers Neverland will also feature together with Leon, Corey Mwamba and sinfonia ViVA.

Similar events have been planned for other cities in the UK and will mark the start of the new Olympiad as the games are handed over from Beijing to London.

The occasion will also include live coverage of the closing ceremony in Beijing on the Big Screen. It will be a free event.

The full line-up is as follows: (timings subject to change)

• 1.30pm – Hoverla Ukrainian Ensemble – music from the Ukrainian community… and maybe a surprise dance!
• 2.15pm – Bana Congo - a Congolese group led by Zigy
• 2.30pm – BIG SCREEN – Live Hand-over ceremony from Beijing along with raising of the Olympic Flag in Derby
• 3.00pm – Sing The Nation with the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir… the nation united in song as the country has "Big Sing" events happening in various locations
• 3.20pm – sinfonia ViVA – a national orchestra based in the East Midlands… featuring a quartet from within the orchestra
• 4.15pm – Pritam Rhythm Tribe – featuring local children from drum workshops
• 5.00pm – East Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra with Alex Wilson

• 6.00pm – Patagium – featuring Corey Mwamba and other talented musicians in a fusion of styles!
• 6.30pm – Stuck in 2nd – acoustic duo playing surf/reggae/good time music!
• 6.45pm – Leon – local band with a wealth of experience and great songs
• 7.30pm – Neverland – a rare appearance from a great Derby band playing Celtic Rock
• 8.30pm – Gabriella Cilmi - withÌýher top ten single and some other tracks from her first album, 'Lessons to be Learned'.

Speaking to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Derby during a visit to the city, the chief executive of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Paul Deigton, said: "2012 is about the whole of the UK. Here in Derby there'll be a big party using the live screen. So we're here today to make sure that Derby, too, gets a big chance to celebrate."

Corey Mwamba

And Derby's Olympics ambassador, Paul Brookes, told us: "There's going to be a fantastic programme of music, theatre and dance and singing in the Market Place.

"We're looking to see a whole range of acts and performances on that day as a free public concert.

"The partnership around the installation of the Big Screen... make us feel that Derby is really going somewhere and we're very pleased to see that happening and it gives us the chance to celebrate the hand-over from Beijing and to do something special in this region."

Australian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi achieved the number 6 spot in the UK charts with her debut single 'Sweet about me'.

The catchy tune has been played over all major radio stations and now it won't be long until she is belting out the number in the centre of Derby.

About Gabriella

Sixteen-year-old Gabriella hails from Melbourne, Australia and was brought up by her Italian parents.

It was at an Italian Festival in her home town that she was spotted singing 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' by a record company boss which led to her break into the big time.

Despite her now very jet-set lifestyle she is continuing her schooling whilst on the move.

She describes Blondie and Janis Joplin as influences and for one so young she is certainly well on the way to becoming a strong female rock voice in her own right.

But recent comparisons to Amy Winehouse have been dismissed by the singer.

However in a truly rock and roll manner, on her website she says that she hopes to marry a cowboy and live in the desert!

For one so young, she has already sung the theme tune to ITV show Echo Beach and her debut album 'Lessons to be Learned' was released in March 2008.