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ABBA MANIA Reviews and Press

Melbourne, Australia
WHETHER you are a fan or not, there is no denying ABBA's songs are catchy. They pass the old grey whistle test (that is, if you play them to old blokes, they'll be whistling the tune the next day). The tunes also trigger the get-up-and-dance impulse, and that is just what the crowd at ABBA MANIA did.

They swayed, bumped, clapped, waved and did the finger-pointing dance to Mamma Mia! ABBA fans are a seriously daggy crowd, but they certainly know how to have a good time - and they know all the lyrics. The Swedish supergroup generated myriad tribute bands and this British show has been running since 1999. Mark Thomas (Bjorn) plays guitar and Phil Hawkes (Benny) piano.

Though four singers alternate as Agnetha and Anni-Frid, I saw the sassy and richvoiced Katy Summer as Agnetha and Carly Broom playing a rather understated Anni-Frid. Backing singers Lydia Griffiths and Laura Chapple and 11 musicians - including eight string players - support them with a big orchestral sound based on Bjorn's and Benny's original arrangements. The crowd went wild over Waterloo, Mamma Mia!, Money Money Money, Super Trouper and the raunchy Gimme! Girnrne! Gimme! They leapt to their feet for Dancing Queen and SOS. They sighed and moaned at the first chords of romantic ballads such as I Do, I Do, IDo and Fernando. Then Summer knocked their socks off with a haunting solo in The Winner Takes it All.

The original ABBA harmonies are featured and the emotional lyrics still affect the audience. ABBA will never go away. If you loved them in the '70s, you will love ABBA MANIA.

Herald Sun Melbourne 25/02/2009   Review by Kate Herbert

"Even better than the originals in the live arena" - Sky News

"Close your eyes and it could have been Abba!" - Sky News

"If you're an Abba fan, you'll love the tribute concert" - Daily express

"Abbamania are one of the best on the circuit." "Don't miss 'em." - Daily mirror

"Completely infectious! For a good night out, even if you are not a die hard fan, this was good innocent fun for all the family." - BBC-Nottingham website

"The audience, carried by the seventies sounds of Voulez-vouz and The Winner Takes It All are soon singing and dancing in the aisles. A live backing band and really spectacular stage effects make this a great evening's entertainment and well worth the money." - The Stage

"mindblowingly accurate! a remarkable show which is a true credit to the performers/musicians involved. These demanding songs were performed wonderfully, long may this show continue." - whatsonstage.com ( West End reviewer)

"Brilliant" "Anyone who can sit through this without participating needs an undertaker!!" - whatsonstage.com (West End reviewer)

“The best bar none tribute band on the scene and absolute foot stamping show." "This show is definitely one not to miss." - whatsonstage.com (West End reviewer)

"Abba-solutely brilliant. The authenticity of the production has to be seen and heard to be believed, and the quality of the vocals, harmonies and the band set new standards in the West End ." - Whatsonstage.com ( West End reviewer)

"This IS the best time you can have with your clothes on!" - whatsonstage.com ( West End reviewer)

"Absolutely brilliant!! Did not sit down very much." - whatsonstage.com ( West End reviewer)

"as true to an authentic Abba gig as you'll ever find." - Covent Garden

lavish costumes, lighting and sound...." - Daily echo

"Back by popular demand for the third consecutive year, this lively concert-style recreation of the much-loved foursome's music remains as infectious and enjoyable as ever as does the party-like atmosphere this show always generates. The audience spend pretty much the next two hours on their feet dancing, clapping and singing along with abandon-free gusto." - Wolverhampton Express and Star

"The excitement the quartet generated in part two suggests the franchise still has some mileage left. An elderly lady around the 80 mark, was dancing quietly in the dress circle while, a lad barely in his teens was giving it the full arm-waving treatment confirming the timeless appeal of the music of Abba. The stomping demand for an encore suggests that ABBA MANIA will have the old place heaving." - Nottingham Evening Post

"I was impressed with the quality of the singing which was about as soundalike as you could get, and with the carefully copied dance routines and costumes. I was amazed at the number of 20-somethings (mostly women) claping along and even dancing in the aisles." - Torquay Herald

"From the word go as Frida and Agnetha impersonators belted out Waterloo the masses got to their feet and started to boogie. The show finished with Dancing Queen before the crowd begged them back." - Evening Post

".... no end of tribute bands sprange up in commemoration. The best of these is in Nottingham this week. The show had all the trimmings-four pleasant look-alikes with vaguely Scandinavian or American accents, floppy hair, glittery in exotic spangles costumes, golden boots and silver chains, but with the sort of musical expertise not much different from the real thing. With three super troupers behind them spraying out sound on guitar, bass and drums - they do their stuff against banks of stabbing lights, smoke, cascading fireworks, gentle humour and heady, wonderful noise." - Saga

"It's a dead ringer for the true pop idols," Jean from Hereford - Covent Garden