The complete ABBA Australian Tour 1977 schedule
by ABBA guru Ian Cole - Sydney, Australia

Yes, the milestone has finally arrived in Australia. 25 years ago yesterday, ABBA arrived in Australia for their concert tour. 25 years ago today, they held their famous press conference at the Sebel Townhouse in Sydney.

I know that many of us Australians managed to attend one or more of the concerts. For many of us, it was the only time we ever saw "ABBA" (as opposed to the individual components) in the flesh. So I hope that you'll all share with us yoiur memories of that time over the next couple of weeks (unlike our European counterparts, who seem to have forgotten the whole thing! ;-) )

The full tour itinerary (as given to Graeme in 1977 and reprinted in one of his fan club newsletters many years ago, as well as the programme for the 20 Year Celebration 5 years ago), was as follows:

ABBA Australian Tour 1977
February 27th - March 13th

ABBA & Management:
Promoter: Paul Dainty
Tour Leader: Michael Barnett
Australian Tour Manager: Michael Chugg
Asst. Tour Manager: Graham Maddigan
Production Manager: Eric Robinson
Publicity: Patti Mostyn
Australian Musical Director: Graeme Lyall

Play Dates:
Thursday March 3rd Sydney Showgrounds 8.30 p.m.
Friday March 4th Sydney Showgrounds 8.30 p.m.
Saturday March 5th Melbourne Sidney Myer Music Bowl 8.30 p.m.
Sunday March 6th Melbourne Sidney Myer Music Bowl 2.30 p.m. & 8.30 p.m.
Tuesday March 8th Adelaide Westlakes F'ball Stadium 8.30 p.m.
Thursday March 10th Perth Entertainment Centre 6.00 p.m. & 9.00 p.m.
Friday March 11th Perth Entertainment Centre 9.00 p.m.
Saturday March 12th Perth Entertainment Centre 2.30 p.m. & 8.30 p.m.

'ABBA' & Management Touring Party
Björn & Agnetha Ulvaeus
Benny & Anni-Frid Andersson/Fredriksson
Peter Grönwall
Hans Fredriksson
Bo Norling
Stig Anderson
Paul Dainty
Mr & Mrs Thomas Johansson
Michael Barnett
Åke Olsson
Bob Jones & Richard Norton (ABBA personal security)
J. Spaulding & C. Broughton
Hugh Lynn
Mr & Mrs Morris Smith (RCA)

'ABBA' & Management - Itinerary

Sunday 27th February Arrive Sydney, Australia
Flight QF 8
Time 9.15 p.m.
Limousines To Hotel
Hotel The Sebel Town House
Elizabeth Bay Road
Elizabeth Bay NSW
Phone (02) 358 3244
Telex: 20067
Monday February 28th
Press conference The Sebel Town House
11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. New Zealand Radio & Television
12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. 4BC Radio Brisbane
3.30 to 4.00 p.m. Television news & current affairs progs
4.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Press & radio
5.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Sounds Unlimited & Flashez TV programmes
6.00 p.m. to 6.15 p.m. Daily Mirror newspaper winners
6.15 p.m. to 6.45 p.m. Countdown TV programme
The above is subject to slight alteration

Tuesday March 1st
Limousines 9.30 a.m. to:
'ABBA' life story interview EMI Sound Studios
231 Miller Street,
10.00 a.m. to 12 noon North Sydney
Phone: (02) 922 7866
Interviewer: Trevor Smith
Limousines Back to hotel
Sound rehearsal: Sydney Showgrounds
Driver Avenue, Paddington
Backstage phone: (02) 33 3520
Time: 8.00 p.m.
Depart Hotel 7.30 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready

Wednesday March 2nd
Sound & string rehearsal: Sydney Showgrounds
Driver Avenue, Paddington
Backstage phone: (02) 33 3520
Time: 8.00 p.m.
Depart Hotel 7.30 p.m.
Return to hotel When ready

Thursday March 3rd
Concert One performance
Venue Sydney Showgrounds
Driver Avenue, Paddington
Backstage phone: (02) 33 3520
Sound rehearsal: 2.00 p.m.
Depart hotel 1.30 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready
Depart hotel 7.00 p.m.
Show time 8.30 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready

Friday March 4th
Concert One performance
Venue Sydney Showgrounds
Driver Avenue, Paddington
Backstage phone: (02) 33 3520
Sound rehearsal: 2.00 p.m.
Depart hotel 1.30 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready
Depart hotel 7.00 p.m.
Show time 8.30 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready

Saturday March 5th Sydney to Melbourne
Luggage in lobby 8.00 a.m.
Depart hotel 8.45 a.m.
Depart Sydney 9.30 a.m.
Flight AN 1065
Arrive Melbourne 10.45 a.m.
Limousines To hotel
Hotel The Old Melbourne Motor Inn
Flemington Road, North Melbourne
Phone (03) 329 9344
Telex: 32057
Town Hall reception: To meet the Lord Mayor
Councillor Donald Osborne
Limousines depart hotel 12.30 p.m.
Reception 12.45 p.m.
Return to Hotel 1.30 p.m. (approx.)
Concert One performance
Venue Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Kings Domain, Melbourne
Phone: (02) 63 8547
Sound Rehearsal: 4.00 p.m.
Depart Hotel 3.30 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready
Depart hotel 7.00 p.m.
Show time 8.30 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready
Please note: before retiring for the night please put your watches back one
hour as daylight savings finishes on Sunday March 6th at 3.00 a.m.

Sunday March 6th
Concerts Two performances
Venue Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Kings Domain, Melbourne
Phone: (02) 63 8547
Sound rehearsal: 12 noon
Depart hotel 11.30 a.m.
Show time (no. 1) 2.30 p.m.
Return to hotel 5.00 p.m. (if required)
Depart hotel 7.00 p.m.
Show time (no. 2) 8.30 p.m.
Return to hotel When ready

Monday March 7th
Day off

Tuesday March 8th Melbourne to Adelaide
Luggage in lobby 12.30 p.m.
Depart hotel 1.00 p.m.
Depart Melbourne 1.50 p.m.
Flight AN 204
Arrive Adelaide 2.25 p.m.
Limousines To hotel
Hotel The Parkroyal Motor Inn
South Terrace, Adelaide
Phone: (08) 223 4355
Telex: 81256
Concert One performance
Venue West Lakes Football Stadium
Turner Drive, West Lakes
Phone: (08) 268 2088 or 268 2254
Sound rehearsal: 4.00 p.m.
Depart hotel 3.30 p.m.
Return to hotel When ready
Depart hotel 7.00 p.m.
Show time 8.30 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready


Wednesday March 9th Adelaide to Perth
Luggage in lobby 10.30 a.m.
Depart hotel 11.15 a.m.
Depart Adelaide 12 noon
Flight AN 6754
Arrive Perth 1.30 p.m. (Perth time)
Limousines To hotel
Hotel The Parmelia
Mill Street, Perth
Phone: (092) 22 3622
Telex: 92365

Thursday March 10th
Concerts Two performances
Venue Perth Entertainment Centre
Wellington Street, Perth
Phone: (092) 22 4766
Sound & string rehearsal: 3.00 p.m.
Depart hotel 2.30 p.m.
Show times 6.00 p.m. & 9.00 p.m.
Limousines available for return to hotel at anytime before, during and after
performances

Friday March 11th
Concert One performance
Venue Perth Entertainment Centre
Wellington Street, Perth
Phone: (092) 22 4766
Sound check: at artiste's discretion
Depart hotel 8.00 p.m.
Show time 9.00 p.m.
Return to hotel when ready

Saturday March 12th
Concerts Two performances
Venue Perth Entertainment Centre
Wellington Street, Perth
Phone: (092) 22 4766
Sound rehearsal: at artiste's discretion
Depart hotel 2.00 p.m.
Show times 3.00 p.m. & 8.30 p.m.
Limousines available to return to hotel at anytime before, during and after
performances

Sunday March 13th Perth to London
Luggage in lobby 5.15 p.m.
Depart hotel 5.45 p.m.
Depart Perth 7.30 p.m.
Flight QF 7
Arrive London 7.10 a.m. on Monday March 14th

Musicians:
Ulf Andersson, saxes
Ola Brunkert, drums
Anders Eljas, keyboards
Wojciech Ernest, keyboards
Malando Gassama, percussion
Rutger Gunnarsson, bass
Lars Karlsson, saxes
Finn Sjöberg, guitars
Lars Wellander, guitars
Lena Andersson, Lena-Maria Gårdenäs-Lawton, Maritza Horn, backup vocals
Francis Matthews, narrator "The Girl With The Golden Hair"


Ian Cole in Sydney Australia

Posted on ABBAMAIL, March 4th, 2002