I have followed Glenn’s career for quite some years,
had the opportunity to observe his rising popularity –
from the funny agenda highlight on a camping site 15 years ago to the
popular performer with a show and his very own style.
Wait a moment ... own style? Can an Elvis imitator really claim to have
his own style? Of course, if he does it the way Glenn does!
He has everything one needs. A good voice, a direct line to the audience,
good musicians, a good arrangement – his shows become something in
between a rock show, an awakening event and an international soccer
match. He stands on the stage and the audience waves the lighters. He
lights the fire and the "congregation" answers. He hits the mark and the
audience cheers.
If Tony Kaplan (from the newspaper Kvällsposten) wants him to answer 12
questions on Elvis Presley, he answers only one ...!
"I know nothing about Elvis Presley – but I love his music", Glenn says
and laughs.
No-one leaves a Glenn Wish show without deep impressions.
But who is this Glenn Wish, about whom even the severest press critics
write: "All is perfect ..." (Kr.), "Intense contact to the
audience" (SDS), "Success right from the beginning" (Nst.), "GLENNsend"
(Kvällsposten), „a swinging sea of audience" (YA) and, last but
not least, Rune Häger, who wrote: " ... The audience becomes a part
of the show and the whole hall becomes the stage. This is Las Vegas in
Malmö. If tickets are still available, get one!".
Glenn Åhstedt comes from Tormestorp, a suburb of Hässleholm. For 14
years, he had a successful company which he sold in 2007 to dedicate
himself wholeheartedly to the music.
Each year in autumn, he and The New Memphis Orchestra – consisting of
musicians from Europe and the USA, handpicked by the conductor Johan
Svensson – come up with a new show. In 2005 and 2006, about 30,000
people attended his last shows in the Slagthuset. The tickets sold like
hot cakes.
Amazing that there is a local performer from Tormestorp, who is able to
attract as many people as the prominent performers with their own
television shows!
He cons the audience into calling in chorus for one encore after the
other ...
Glenn Wish is nothing less than a phenomenon!
Claes Schmidt
Eventproducer Slagthuset in Malmö