SURREY — For 24 years, the kiddie, Australian version of the Fab Four has been entertaining tykes with their rockin', kid-friendly tunes. But why should those "Down Under" have all the fun?
The Wiggles, a quartet of kids entertainers in a nursery-rhyme rock band, are wiggling their way right into our own city, at Surrey’s Bell Performing Arts Centre this Saturday (Oct. 18).
Lachlan “Lachy†Gillespie, known as the Purple Wiggle, is the newest member of the traveling troupe of kids entertainers, and is excited to hit the stage in Surrey this weekend on the group’s “Ready, Steady, Wiggle†tour in support of their Apples and Bananas album and DVD.
And, as tired as the Wiggles may get after months on the road, Lachy said that the performances energize them day after day.
“We’re basically on the road about eight months a year. We’ve seen so much of the world, it’s quite extraordinary how many places we’ve been to,†Lachy told the Now.
“The shows definitely energize you. As soon as you run out, you forget about everything. You forget about where you are or how tired you are because there’s just the most electric crowds but I do think the touring gets exhausting, but we’re all healthy, fit young people.â€
A songwriter and piano composer in his spare time, Lachy is able to bring his talents to the table in his job as a full-time Wiggle.
“When we started, we did a lot of the original Wiggles songs, but then (Anthony Field, founding member of The Wiggles) encouraged us to start writing songs for the group,†Lachy said.
“I love sitting down on the piano and writing songs, and its just a different mindset now to write children’s music. It can be a lot simpler, the melodies can be a lot simpler and they can still be just as fun.â€
In fact, Lachy has penned more than a few original songs for the best-selling CDs, including composing “Skeleton Skat†and “Full Moon Melody†on the upcoming Halloween album.
In the end, however, The Wiggles maintain that their most important message is to have fun and keep dancing.
“The only thing is that we encourage everyone, if they can, to sing along, to dance along, to really have a great time,†Lachy said. “You (even) see babies just move as soon as the music starts and they don’t know what they’re doing but they start to clap their hands and wiggle their legs, shaking their head and, you know, that’s all we really do. We keep our songs about healthy messages and exercise.â€
The Wiggles perform at Surrey’s Bell Performing Arts Centre on Saturday (Oct. 18) at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $60 and can be purchased by calling 604-507-6355.