Last night I went to see ABBA Voyage with the excellent charity Eye Matter and what a truly joyful evening it was! When the world’s become bleak a bit of distraction is just what’s needed. I’ve been avoiding social media for the last couple of days as understandably emotions are running very high and sometimes it’s best to disengage to avoid doomscrolling and replying to posts that wind me up!
Anyway, a group of about 20 of us met at Stratford Station and headed to the venue together. I went with my ABBA uber fan mate Louisa and we danced and sang the night away! I think most people have a love of ABBA at some level, they are just a powerhouse of song writing talent and for me they remind me of a few years of my teens when my group of mates would go out dancing, and then at Uni when ABBA were always a sure dance floor filler, somehow you just can’t forget those lyrics and soaring melodies! I don’t care that they kind of all sound the same, sometimes belting out songs that are easy to sing in a big group of mates is very freeing! Highlights for me were Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, Lay All Your Love On Me and the one that was stuck in my head all the way home, Thank You For The Music!
This event was not audio described and even though it’s an AI extravaganza I didn’t mind at all that I couldn’t see the visuals. Louisa filled me in during the more quiet bits about what she could see; the outfits of course, and other details here and there but I was there for the music, atmosphere and company. ABBA themselves were holograms and there was a live band and backing singers to give it a feeling of being at a gig. The audio quality was very good and I liked that the sound was sort of swirling around us at times, they used the space well. And it was lovely that the drummer, Ella, is someone I knew years ago when she was in a band with my husband - Louisa said she looked like she was having the time of her life, what a fantastic job!
The arena holds about 3000 people and the place was packed. I’m a wheelchair user and the staff assistance was flawless; helpful, welcoming and chatty.
On the way out after the show we got sidetracked by the bar where there was a conga line going on to some of the songs they didn’t include in the setlist and we just had to stop for a drink and enjoy a last bit of the happy, carefree vibe before making our way back to the tube. A very special night out!
@sarahmatthews Isn’t it joyous! I went in Dec last year with a friend, as we loved it so much, we’re going again this year.
@thebaywindowgirl I’m not surprised you’re going again, what a fun night out! I was very sceptical about it when it first started because of the hologram thing but so many people have told me how much fun they had that when this event was announced by the charity I went for it! I’m just glad I found a big ABBA fan to go with as that made it extra special! It takes something big to get me out in the evenings in November haha!
@sarahmatthews Oh my gosh, that sounds so amazing! I am so glad you had such a wonderful time. I agree I love their music. It's great.
@Pawpower Thanks! It’s one of those things that’s out of my comfort zone and as the day neared I wondered why I’d got myself into it but once I was there I was thinking why don’t I do stuff like this more often?! And it was almost a massive fiasco as there was a tube strike planned for yesterday which would have made it almost impossible to get to and we only found out that the strike was cancelled on Tuesday so that did not help my anxiety! So thankful it all worked out :)
@sarahmatthews i'm glad you enjoyed it so much.
@ChocolatePie Thanks! I didn’t really know what to expect as it’s so unique
@sarahmatthews i've heard lots about it.
@sarahmatthews @ChocolatePie That sounds like such a fun time. I’m really glad you got to go.
@technocounselor @ChocolatePie Thanks, it was so different and memorable!