ABBA Tribute Band Waterloo Brings Tour To Benedum Center Stage 9/9

Take a chance on ABBA, The Music! The world's number one ABBA tribute band, Waterloo, brings its internationally-acclaimed tour back to the U.S. on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 7:30 p.m. to the Benedum Center stage. Founders Katja Nord and Camilla Hedrén restore the legendary singing group's classic music and eccentric costumes gaining the group critical acclaim in Norway, Denmark, Germany and the UK with ABBA: The Show. Waterloo's U.S. tour ABBA, The Music, features over 20 of ABBA's greatest hits. Waterloo's lead singers Nord and Hedrén are joined by band members Joakim Holgersson, Mattias Hakansson. The event is part of the Trust Presents series sponsored by Cohen & Grigsby.

Nord and Hedrén formed Waterloo in 1996 when they began performing in small venues around Sweden. The group's star quickly rose as they re-created ABBA's original costumes and featured original ABBA band members like Rutger Gunnarsson (bass), Ola Brunkert (drums), Ulf Andersson (sax), Mats Ronander (guitar and vocals) and Lasse Wellander (guitar) as guests of honor. Since then, ABBA, The Music has generated sold-out crowds at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Highland Park in Chicago and The Royal Albert Hall in London, officially cementing Waterloo's position as the most celebrated ABBA tribute band to date.

The original band ABBA was formed in 1970 by engaged couples Agnetha Fältskogand Björn Ulvaeus, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson as a cabaret act called "Festfolk." After moderate success with some early recordings like "Ring, Ring" and "People Need Love," the group officially changed their name to ABBA, an acronym of their first names, and entered the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo." On April 6, 1974, ABBA won over the international juries and "Waterloo" became a number 1 hit across Europe, even reaching the top 10 charts in the United States.

Over the next several years, the group produced multiple worldwide hits including "SOS," "Mamma Mia," and "Dancing Queen." They occupied the UK's number 1 spot nine times, had six number 1 hits in Australia, and released eight studio albums between 1973 and 1981. ABBA's compilation records in the UK and Australia, "Greatest Hits" and "The Best Of ABBA" respectively, are still the best-selling albums of all-time in those territories.

Although the original ABBA members have not reunited, their music continues to be enjoyed around the world. In 1999, the Broadway show based on ABBA's hit, "MAMMA MIA!," premiered in London and has continued to tour internationally and across the U.S. since that time. The play was eventually adapted into a feature film starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan in 2008.
ABBA's success has garnered a Dutch music prize Edison Award, a Georgie Award for Best Vocal Group of the Year from the American Guild of Variety Artists, a Golden Gramophone Award from Germany's recording company Deutsche Grammophon, an Honorary Grammy Award, a 1993 World Music Award as the Best Selling Scandinavian Artist of the Year and the Rockbjörnen Swedish Artist of the Century Award.

This year, ABBA the Museum will be opened in Stockholm Sweden, featuring original outfits and instruments used by the group, handwritten song lyrics, a display of different awards, and a studio where visitors can record their own ABBA songs.
Tickets ($34.50-$39.50) for the September 9, 2009 performance of ABBA, The Music at the Benedum Center may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at pgharts.org, or by calling 412-456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call 412-471-6930.

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