Hits of the ’70s relived with Abbi’s ABBA

Abbi’s ABBA star Abbi Collins has been an ABBA devotee since, as a four-year-old, she first experienced the 2008 film Mamma Mia, based on the band’s music. With musical coconspirator and fellow ABBA fan Lloyd Herbert, she launched a series of Abbi’s ABBA gigs at the Record Keeper last week.

The pair deliver hits traversing the Swedish pop group’s stellar 1972-1982 career, from their show’s opening number “Super Trouper” to “Dancing Queen” and “Does Your Mother Know”. Abbi turns solo on torch songs “My Love, My Life”, and “The Winner Takes It All”. She says ABBA’s songs are exceptional whether performed by ABBA or by Mamma Mia’s actors. “It’s the music. That’s the main thing that draws me,” she says. For Lloyd, as for Abbi, the band’s music found a home in his heart early on. “Growing up, my family loved ABBA. It holds a deep place.”

The Record Keeper hosts presentations and musical performances regularly. Co-owner Katrina Young-Drew says, “We want to involve the community, and we’re grateful people in the community are offering to do these shows. They’re intimate, and people feel engaged. We’re pretty much booked up into next year.”

Abbi, who works at the Record Keeper, says

Abbi’s ABBA is the result of Katrina and fellow Record Keeper co-owner Stephen Drew “finding out I can sing.” Their shared admiration for the band’s quintessentially 1970s sound was icing on the cake. Stephen says, “Abbi’s one of our local stars … and the 70s was a wonderful era; 1970 arrived, and pop music started.”

A final performance of Abbi’s ABBA will be held at 7pm, Tuesday, 15 August, at the Record Keeper. Doors open 6.30pm. Tickets $20; ’70s-style supper included; limited seats remaining. Call 021 634 880 to book.

JAN FINLAYSON