ABBA The Concert

You can dance! You can jive! Have the time of your life at Wolf Trap’s ABBA the Concert. After selling out the venue in 2019, The Visitors—a world-renowned ABBA cover band deemed “the closest to ABBA you will ever get”—return to the DMV on Aug. 15. Formed in 1996 by Martin Håkansson and Christian Fast, the Stockholm-based band originally called themselves Waterloo, after ABBA’s second album. But as more members joined (and another band took the same name), the group rebranded as The Visitors in 2013. As for why the group began—and continues—to emulate ABBA, lead singer Matilda Lindell tells City Paper that it has to do with the beloved disco band’s Swedish roots. “ABBA runs in our blood. It’s part of our culture,” says Lindell. “Everyone knows ABBA in Sweden.” Over the last two and half decades, The Visitors have performed in 25 states and more than 25 countries throughout the world. Upon their Wolf Trap return, The Visitors will perform fan favorites such as “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” “Money, Money, Money,” “The Winner Takes It All,” “Waterloo,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,” and “Dancing Queen.” Despite being a cover band, Lindell promises the group puts their own twist on the popular tunes. “Even though we really try to imitate ABBA—the sound and the outfits—it’s also a lot of personality we put in the show and every show is unique.” Concert gates open at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna. wolftrap.org. $37.