Three to See Edmonton Events: YO ABBA ABBA, Trooper at Midway, and Anora

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YO ABBA ABBA: As well as being a banner year for concerts, 2024 saw a notable proliferation of cover and tribute bands playing the outreaches of the city’s music scene.
One of the best of these running exists on what you might call the Emma Frazier/Kayla Shanti Axis — these two powerhouse party divas fronting a mix of sensational ringers from various successful local indie bands letting ridiculously loose on the songs of Madonna, Shania Twain, and, in this case, the stone-engraved classics of Sweden’s most famous export until Ikea came along.
This cover band seriously brought tears to my eyes playing The Winner Takes It All in August at Rocky Mountain Ice House’s 10th anniversary (Bud Frazier was an insanely dressed housecat in a housecoat), and apparently, the centre-bar cantina Cask & Barrel is somehow expanding its dimensions so there’ll be elbow and, most importantly, room for dancing, queens!
Also, peacock up like Bowie or Morrissey if you’d like to fit the ‘70s/’80s bangers of DJ Disco!
Details: 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Cask & Barrel (10041 104 St.), $33.27 or $75.87 with VIP dinner at facebook.com/caskandbarrel104
Trooper: If you’re antsy and looking for some action tonight, Canada’s party band brings its impressive catalogue of hits to Midway, home of so many of the best shows in the last year.
My friends and I sometimes play a game to see how many Trooper songs we can name going back and forth (this also works for David Wilcox), and a little cheat sheet here would include We’re Here for a Good Time, Raise a Little Hell, The Boys in the Bright White Sports Cars (which Ra McGuire once told me was inspired by a TV ad), and the ridiculously mean 3 Dressed Up as a 9. Ouch!
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday at Midway (6107 104 St.), $66.25 at ticketmaster.ca
Anora (2024): Finally, along with Queer, Wicked, Nosferatu, and the Planet of the Apes sequel among the best movies of the year, Sean Baker’s impressively kinetic tale of two social classes stars the utterly magnetic Mikey Madison, who you genuinely fear for much of the Palme d’Or-winning film.
Bonus is how sympathetic even the lowest thugs are here. Don’t miss this one on the big screen.
Details: 3:15 p.m. Sun., 12:30 p.m. Tues., and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Metro Cinema (8712 109 St.), $14
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