Gimme, gimme, gimme that synth and soprano coming to The Airlie Beach Hotel in mid-March – I can hear the distant drums and bugle sounds closing in on the Bar-Top Stage.
SOS - A Tribute to the Songs of ABBA arrives in the Whitsundays, bringing Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha, and Freda back to town and ‘As Good As New’ in a perfect recreation of the iconic ‘70s band.
The Airlie Beach Hotel has become a perfect sojourn for this group of super-fans of the Swedish super-group, who for years has been leading a double life: by day, they’re mild-mannered Australian musicians, but by night, they’re crazy ABBA fans.
The Melbourne-based band came together to obsessively re-create the sound, music, and look of the Swedish pop sensation they loved so dearly. Now, they walk out on stage, leaving behind their everyday lives and transforming into rock stars at The Australian ABBA Tribute Show.
Armed to the teeth with fantastic costumes, incredible vocal talents, animated ABBA dance moves, and Swedish accents, the SOS Tribute to ABBA show is back and better than ever.
Sam Bennet, who fills the shoes and takes up the pick as SOS’s Bjorn, said that audiences in the Whitsundays had given them a huge reception when they were last at The Pub in August and were hoping for even better this time out.
“We’re so excited to be back; it was so incredible and amazing last time,” Sam said.
“We’re excited to be giving people that feeling of seeing ABBA live because you can tell how much it means to people – there’s always a song in the set where there’s a twinkle in their eye that they’re remembering a moment in their life.
“Whether that be heartbreak or love, it's a real honor to perform that music."
Sam said the group doesn’t just perform to emulate the records, they match the energy that audiences saw when ABBA played at Wembley or the Sydney Mine Music Bowl.
“We match that energy and the arrangements we use are often based on those live performances rather than the records,” Sam said.
“The one thing we try and do is give the audience an experience of what ABBA was in the 70s and 80s.”
Patrons at The Airlie Beach Hotel are in for two free shows (that's right! For absolutely no Money, Money, Money): one on Saturday, March 11, and (Mama Mia, here we go again) another on Sunday, March 12, when SOS take the Bar Top stage again.
Put On Your White Sombrero for their afternoon shows from 2.00pm to 5.30pm!
What: SOS – The Australian ABBA Tribute Show
When: Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12, from 2.00pm to 5.30pm both days
Where: The Airlie Beach Hotel