ARRIVAL from Sweden

Skål! It’s the Swedish toast to friendship and goodwill and it was the name of the VIP dinner event which took place October 18 at the Marina Civic Center before the season opener, “Arrival from Sweden, The Music of ABBA” with The Panama City POPS. Hosted by locally-owned Swedish firm B&C Technologies, the sold out pre-concert event featured a gourmet Swedish buffet and beverages with a menu inspired by the Bengt and Whitehead families and catered by Trigo.

Then it was a trip back to the ’70s with hit after ABBA hit performed on stage by the full POPS orchestra and their guests, 12 Swedish musicians and vocalists, “Arrival from Sweden.” Internationally renowned, it is the only ABBA tribute act to actually have worked with the musicians that toured with the band in the ’70s. Maestro Eddie Rackley and the musicians demonstrated their virtuoso versatility and their pop rock chops, and had concert goers on their feet with the time-tested favorites of Sweden’s most famous musical export, ABBA. The concert was sponsored by the St. Joe Community Foundation.