ABBA is still thriving, and they are here for all to see

In the purpose-built ABBA Arena in diverse East London, we see that ABBA has not been forgotten but is still loved by all.

The world became obsessed with ABBA in 1974 during the iconic gay holiday that is Eurovision, where they sang the timeless classic ‘Waterloo’. Since then, their music has been used for many things including the cultural phenomenon that is the Mamma Mia movie franchise, the hit West End show, and most recently an immersive dinner.

So it only seems obvious that ABBA should build an arena for all of us to enjoy their music in a completely new and incredibly personal way. Though now in their seventies, the incredible singer-songwriters still haven't stopped delivering show stopping concerts every night. They devised a refreshing way of making the experience even more special by creating their own virtual avatars dubbed as “ABBAtars’ for the voyage, which were accompanied by a beautiful ten-piece band.

To not ruin any of the magic we were asked not to film the performance, which further enhanced the viewing experience and enjoyability. On the ABBA dance floor you are encouraged to just watch, listen, and dance to everything thrown at you. One of the highlights of the ABBA Voyage was the live band, which brought a whole new dimension to all the songs while also preserving the originality of the outstanding tracks.

Photos by Zach Seoudy and Pandora Jones.

Though the twenty song setlist felt like injustice for the immensely diverse nine studio albums that ABBA have produced, you just couldn't stop singing and saying ‘Thank You For The Music’. The sombre beginning to the concert with tunes such as ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ and ‘Chiquitita’ set the perfect tone for everyone to cry and sing every word in unison.

In a Harry Styles -esque ‘Matilda’ to ‘Cinema’ emotional jolt we suddenly heard ‘Mamma Mia’, and the dance floor became electric with joy as everyone lost their minds. Time floated by in the consistent upbeatness of the concert and we just could not get enough of this immersive experience.

As the set finished strong with ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘The Winner Takes It All’ we applauded ABBA for everything we heard and the unforgettable experience that we had at this unique concert. The only way to see this show is to be on your feet, dancing with your friends, and just letting everything go for the two hour masterpiece!

With additional credit to Zach Seoudy.