Just as the world begins to recover from Meryl Streep's high kicks in Mamma Mia!, Abba's Benny Andersson has announced a live comeback … on a bandstand in north London. The multimillion-selling founder of Sweden's most successful pop group has apparently eschewed the capital's glitzier venues in favour of an outdoor show on Hampstead Heath, set to take place in July.
"Benny is very excited to be playing. The Swedish have a long tradition of dancing outdoors and the music we dance to is perfect for this," Staffan Carlsson, ambassador to Sweden, told the Camden New Journal. He added: "We long for the light ... to go outside after all those dark winter months, so we thought a little free outdoor concert would be a great idea."
We admire Carlsson's positivity in describing a location more often associated with schoolkids popping out for a crafty ciggie. Previous performers, as listed by the Camden New Journal, include, "The Absent Minded Professor, Clown Jenny and The Balloonatic".
Andersson said: "I have heard Hampstead Heath is beautiful and I look forward to performing there."
Carlsson added that the event would feature Abba's music and traditional Swedish folk. The performance is part of a series of Swedish events planned for the summer in celebration of the appointment of a Swedish commissioner of the European Union. Andersson's performance will take place on the Parliament Hill bandstand on 4 July from 2pm onwards.