For years, Russia has tried to unite global allies to challenge the West’s geopolitical and cultural dominance. Its latest plan is to bring them together through song.

On Saturday, the country is staging the Intervision Song Contest, a revival of a Cold War-era spectacle with competitors representing countries like China, Cuba and India.

The United States is being represented by Vassy, a Greek-Australian dance musician who was recently granted American citizenship, although it’s unclear how she was selected to take part.

Intervision was originally staged in the 1960s and 1970s, and music critics have often called it a rival to the Eurovision Song Contest. The Kremlin has high hopes that the new event will attract an avid global audience, just as Eurovision does each year.

But so far, Intervision hasn’t caused much of a stir in Russia, let alone internationally. Despite a heavy promotional campaign on social media and around Moscow, as of Friday tickets were still available for the show in the Russian capital’s Live Arena.

Here’s what to know about the event and why it matters.

What is Intervision?

The first Intervision Song Contest took place in 1965 in Prague, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. Karel Gott, a Czech crooner often called the “Sinatra of the East,” took first place.