ABBA concert in Nykøbing Falster, Denmark on January 16th 1975
The ABBA concert stage in Nykøbing Falster!
Photo: Søren Peter Nielsen
.jpg)
The 1975 ABBA concert stage in Nykøbing Falster Hallerne
as it looks in 2024. Photo: Nykøbing Falster Hallerne
In 1975, ABBA performed in smaller venues, including a concert at the local sports center in Nykøbing Falster. My father, Per, was lucky to sign a contract for an ABBA concert before they became very popular, says Pernille Rasmussen.
Søren Peter Nielsen, a resident of Nykøbing Falster, attended the concert and—luckily for us—brought his camera along. Below, you’ll find some very rare photos from this event.
Sound engineer Claes af Geijerstam clearly remembers the stage setup in Nykøbing Falster. He explains that the HAGSTRÖM PA (visible in the first photo to the right) was arranged so that the instruments had their own speakers while the vocals had a separate set. This meant that no bass or bass drum was included in the vocal speakers, resulting in a very clean sound. Claes remarked that the "ABBA cloth" was likely made by "Artist Dressing" Owe Sandström, who was also responsible for their costumes, after reviewing the vintage stage photograph from 1975.
As it turns out, when ABBA Voyage Denmark [Blog] asked Owe Sandström about the rare photos during his visit to ABBA The Museum on October 31, 2024, he clarified that he did not design the ABBA cloth featuring the Swedish flag in the first photo and could not recall who did. However, Owe noted that the costumes in the photos are the same ones featured in the Mamma Mia! music video, which are also displayed at ABBA The Museum.
After a long break and rehearsals, ABBA hit the road again. From January 10 to 22, 1975, they toured Scandinavia, performing in:
Oslo (N) on January 10,
Stockholm (S) on January 11,
Lund (S) on January 12,
Vejle (DK) on January 14,
Holstebro (DK) on January 15,
Nykøbing Falster (DK) on January 16,
Copenhagen (DK) on January 17,
Gothenburg (S) on January 18,
Helsinki (FI) on January 20,
and Umeå (S) on January 22.
Approximately 1,400 fans paid between 15 and 62 Danish kroner (DKK) to attend ABBA's one-hour show in Nykøbing Falster on January 16, 1975. The performance included a half-hour rock segment by the support group "Beat Makers," followed by an elegantly choreographed ABBA show where every movement, flash of light, and note was precisely timed, as noted by a local newspaper.
An exact setlist is not available but on January 20th 1975 ABBA played these songs at their Helsinki Concert according to this source here
"Gonna Sing You My Love Song"
"Hasta mañana"
"He Is Your Brother"
"Hey Hey Helen"
"Honey Honey"
"Intermezzo No. 1"
"I've Been Waiting for You"
"King Kong Song"
"Ring Ring"
"Rock'n Roll Band"
"Rock Me"
"Sitting in the Palmtree"
"So Long"
"Watch Out"
"Waterloo"
In addition to the four ABBA members, eight background musicians and four technicians comprised their crew.
Per Rasmussen, the organizer of the Nykøbing Falster concert, assessed shortly after the performance that the event at least broke even. He mentioned that they could probably have sold 400-500 more tickets but expressed confidence that this event would not incur a loss, as he told a local newspaper.
Per Rasmussen previously worked at Restaurant Reventlowparken in Torrig on Lolland, where Led Zeppelin performed on September 8, 1968, under the name "The New Yardbirds," as Jerry Ritz, who worked for EMI Denmark for many years, noted.
ABBA in the Danish Charts 1974
| Release | Title | Highest Position | Weeks in the Charts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13/04/1974 | Waterloo (single) | 1 | 10 |
| 20/07/1974 | Honey Honey (single) | 10 | 5 |
| 06/04/1974 | Waterloo (album) | 2 | 23 |
| 20/07/1974 | Ring Ring (album) | 3 | 7 |
The Tour
Sound engineers on the tour included Michael B. Tretow and Claes af Geijerstam; in Nykøbing Falster, it was Claes af Geijerstam. The support group and live band were The Beatmakers, consisting of Boris Lindqvist (vocals, guitar, piano, percussion), Caj Högberg (bass), Peter Kott (trumpet), Torsten Dannenberg (saxophone, flute, accordion), Wojciech Ernest (piano, keyboards), and Zbigniew Ryta (drums).
Björn's old friend Hansi Schwarz, of "Hootenanny Singers" fame, served as the tour bus driver.
Beatmakers: Upper row from left:
#1 Boris Lindqvist (vocals, guitar, piano, percussion)
#2 Torsten Dannenberg (saxophone, flute, accordion)
#3 Caj Högberg (bass)
Lower row from left:
#1 Peter Kott (trumpet)
Beatmakers, 45 RPM single from 1974
Memorabilia from the concert in Nykøbing Falster
Photo: Søren Peter Nielsen
Autographs of all four ABBA members were written on the back of the ticket.
Photo and video: Pia Harbo, who also was lucky to meet three of the ABBA-members.
Here is her story:
"After the concert, the three of them packed up their gear. A couple of us watched. When they were done, we went backstage with them where we came to a room where they had their 'things' and there were refreshments for them. The room had regular chairs, a couple of tables, and a couple of mirrors.... nothing luxurious.
There was no queue and we went straight in and met ......ABBA.....
We were there with three from ABBA. Agnetha was sick/unwell and resting elsewhere. They were friendly, smiling, and laughing. They patiently answered the questions we had. The atmosphere was almost euphoric.
But it was late and a regular school day the next day, so we said goodbye and thank you".
Photo: Conny Hansen (who also attended the concert)
Photos: Pernille Rasmussen. Autographs from her father's (the concert organisers) autograph book
Björn took of his shirt during the january concert in Nykøbing Falster
Photo: Søren Peter Nielsen
Frida on stage. Photo: Søren Peter Nielsen
Benny at the piano. Photo: Søren Peter Nielsen
---o----
Concert organiser Per Rasmussen (to the left) and here with James Last (right). Pers daughter, Pernille Rasmussen, says that her father also managed to book Dr. Hook, Sailor, Les Humphries Singers, Bay City Rollers, Showaddywaddy, Suzi Quatro, and many others for concerts in Nykøbing Falster and a few other cities. Photo: Pernille Rasmussen (from her fathers scrapbook).
