Wiggles dedicate new video to N.L. fishermen
Australian children’s music supergroup The Wiggles have just released their newest video —and have dedicated it to Newfoundland fishermen.
The Wiggles — Anthony Field, Lachy Gillespie, Emma Watkins and Simon Pryce, with cohort Paul Paddick as pirate Capt. Feathersword — filmed a video for their version of “Squid Jiggin’ Ground” in Quidi Vidi while on tour in St. John’s last October.
The Wiggles released a recording of the 1928 Art Scammell tune on their “Let’s Eat!” album in 2010, and have performed snippets of the song onstage at Mile One Centre both times they’ve visited.
Their newest version is a duet with P.E.I. musician Tim Chaisson, an awardwinning solo artist, fiddler and member of The East Pointers, who can now add “Canadian Wiggle” to his resumé, according to Field. Chaisson and his fiddle also appear in the video, having filmed shots while touring Australia a few months ago.
“Tim Chaisson and The East Pointers are just about the most entertaining folk trio in the world,” Field told The Telegram Monday morning. “They brought their magic from Prince Edward Island to Aussie and the whole country was dancing to their jigs and reels. It was so great to film and sing with such a great bloke and such a talented musician, and he pronounces ‘Newfoundland’ correctly!”
At the beginning of the “Squid Jiggin’ Ground” video, Field dedicates the song to Newfoundland fishermen as well as late Nova Scotia country star Hank Snow; Field is a fan of Snow, and his version of “Squid Jiggin’ Ground” was how Field first connected with the song. He admits he’s a tad obsessed with it.
“When we filmed (in Quidi Vidi), for me it was like filming in a cold paradise,” Field said. “Art Scammell sings about all these characters in the song and I could feel them out on the squid jigging ground.”
Watch The Wiggles video for “Squid Jiggin’ Ground” with Tim Chaisson online at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=7ywa2in5cwq&sns=em. It’s featured on The Wiggles’ new DVD, “Duets,” yet to be released in North America.