Disco, Sequins & Dancing Queens: ABBA Tribute Icons BABBA Heading To Logan

There are some songs that seem almost genetically engineered to get a room full of people on their feet. The opening piano glissando of Dancing Queen. That first ridiculous, glorious “Mamma mia, here I go again”.  For more than 30 years, BABBA has been tapping into exactly that particular brand of Swedish pop euphoria — and now the much-loved tribute show is bringing the sequins, harmonies and unapologetic camp to Logan Entertainment Centre.

Remarkably, it all started in a Fitzroy pub in 1994.

“BABBA formed in 1994 as just a bit of fun at The Royal Derby Hotel in Fitzroy,” the group tells Star Observer. “When 450 people turned up to our first show and fans began lining the streets to see us in a little pub in Richmond every Thursday we thought… this is so much fun and people love it!”

More than three decades later, around 15 performers have been part of the group throughout its history, refining a show that has toured Australia, Asia and New Zealand.

And then, in 2019, came the slightly terrifying ultimate test: performing in front of actual ABBA member Benny Andersson.

“It was nerve-racking personally playing Benny’s beautiful piano parts in front of the great man,” they explain.

Afterwards, Andersson joined them on stage and delivered perhaps the most wonderfully understated Swedish review imaginable: “That was pretty good.”

BABBA has also performed with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra before 14,000 people and at the closing ceremony of the Masters Games at Marvel Stadium in front of 45,000.

But part of the reason the show is still going after all these years is that ABBA itself simply refuses to get old. New generations keep finding the band through Muriel’s Wedding, the stage musical and Mamma Mia! films — and, crucially, discovering that Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! still absolutely goes off in any gay bar anywhere around the world.

“There’s a kind of euphoria and celebration of life in the music,” they tell us. “It’s such pure, genuine unpretentious music it connects to being human and our emotions straight away.”

Of course, LGBTQIA+ audiences hardly need to be told about ABBA. Queer communities have been dancing, crying and dramatically pointing across nightclub dancefloors to their songs for generations.

BABBA knows that relationship well, having performed at Midsumma and numerous ChillOut Festivals.

“I think it’s the pure open joy in the music and of course the gloriously outlandish glam costumes,” the group explains.

For queer audiences heading along to the Logan show, they promise “the closest possible recreation of the magic” of ABBA — and want people to bring all that enthusiasm with them.

“LGBTQIA+ people!… please come and express your love of the Swedish four with us!”

And frankly, there are worse ways to spend a night than surrounded by sequins, big harmonies and several hundred people collectively losing their minds to Waterloo.

BABBA is bringing the full disco experience to Logan Entertainment Centre, complete with a dance floor and pre-show Lounge Bar — with dressing up very much encouraged. You can grab tickets and get all the info here.