ABBA Paint and Sip Springfield | 152 Voices, One Huge Night

Springfield, just out from Ipswich, skipped the whole “low key night” idea and went straight to full ABBA chaos. We had 152 people packed in, four artist stations running and every time an ABBA song kicked in, the room went from function space to full blown concert in about three seconds.

The ABBA girls were live and in fine form. They ran medleys, big numbers and those tracks everyone pretends not to love and then screams every word to anyway. From the first song, tables were swaying, shoulders were dancing in chairs and it did not take long before half the room was on its feet.

With a crowd that size, visibility matters, so we built the night around four separate artist stations. No matter where you sat, you had a clear view of a painting demo and an artist walking through the steps. It meant the energy could stay high without people feeling lost or left behind.

The bar and floor staff were flat out in the best way. Trays of drinks kept moving, food came out hot and fast and gaps between layers were just long enough for a top up, a toilet dash and a quick stickybeak at what the table next to you was doing on their canvas.

Everyone painted. Some were focused, some more interested in dancing, most happily juggling both. Colours flew, brushes clacked against jars and there were plenty of those “oh, that actually looks good” moments from people who swore they could not paint.

By the time we wrapped the final song and held up the final canvases, the room felt like it had run a marathon of singing, laughing and trying not to cry with laughter at a few of the masterpieces. In the best possible way, it was a lot.

If you are in the Ipswich or Springfield area and want to be in the next one, keep an eye on our Springfield Paint and Sip and Ipswich Paint and Sip collections. When 152 people paint, sing and dance with ABBA live, you know the sequel will be wild.