Those who can remember vinyl records, flared pants, and AM radio may want to check out a musical tribute to two of the disco era’s greatest acts.
In a tribute to one of the biggest exports to come out of Sweden ––Volvo and Stieg Larsson books aside–– ABBA-Mania is returning to Vernon Tuesday.
The all-Canadian produced concert last played in town three years ago and continues to gain new fans.
This time the show includes a tribute to the BeeGees, entitled Nite Fever, that should bring people back to the days of Saturday Night Fever –– disco ball included.
A tribute to the group that delivered legendary songs such as S.O.S., Waterloo, Dancing Queen and Chiquita, ABBA-Mania has been in demand since the production formed.
“Not only do the four performers look like Anni-Frid, Bjorn, Benny and Agnetha, they also sound unbelievably like them,” said the show’s producer Garry Lichach.
The group includes Michelle Truman (Agnetha), Monica Tietz (Anni-Frid), Mathew Whale (Benny) and Nick Pattison (Bjorn) who have performed 200 dates a year together for the past 12 years.
ABBA-Mania performs 21 of ABBA’s greatest hits, with all the costumes and choreography attached.
The production includes a live band and backup singers. Cast members have even been backed by members of the London (Ontario) Symphony.
Back recently from touring Malaysia, ABBA-Mania has performed around the world with stops in Europe, the U.S. and in Canada to sold-out audiences. Venues such as the Canadian and Pacific National Exhibitions and the Calgary Stampede have employed the show 11 times combined.
“It’s a big production. We’ve got 14 people traveling for this show,” said Lichach.
“The songs are so catchy and the production is massive. They (ABBA) had such a unique style that people not only liked them when they were popular, but still.”
The popularity of the long-running musical production and more recent film version of Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep, has also rekindled ABBA’s popularity.
In fact, the cast of ABBA-Mania have performed for the Toronto cast of Mamma Mia! to rave reviews.
“They said this is the closest thing to ABBA that anyone will ever see,” said Lichach.
Fans of the Gibb brothers –– and Barry’s glass cracking falsetto –– will also not be let down by BeeGee tribute Nite Fever.
The all-Canadian production of the Bee Gees stands on its own and has added to this already powerful show, said Lichach.
“Joe Varga, Paul Reda and lead singer John Acosta create an eerie sense of seeing the brothers Gibb alive in concert –– an event virtually impossible to see today,” he said.
ABBA-Mania and Nite Fever perform Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $39.75 (all ages), available at the Ticket Seller, 549-7469, www.ticketseller.ca.
