Live Review: The Wiggles Wiggly Big Day Out Tour
The Wiggles – WIggly Big Day Out Tour on 18 November 2022 at the RAC Arena
Review by Erica Lorimer
Photos by Lorimer Images
A sparkling trail of bubbles, sunflowers, tutus, and a kaleidoscope of coloured shirts led ardent young fans of superband “The Wiggles” to the RAC Perth Arena over the weekend. It’s ‘Wiggle time’ and the “Wiggly Big Day Out Tour” offers a magical realm where fun knows no bounds and anything is possible.
The Wiggles, one of Australia’s most seasoned and decorated musical acts, have been entertaining millions of families across the globe for more than three decades. When you go to a Wiggles concert you are not merely part of an audience. You quickly get absorbed into the dedicated community and soon realise that the connection goes beyond the conventional fan-artist dynamic to a sense of kinship. There’s a good reason people talk about the collective “Wiggles Family”.
Enter Anthony Field, OG (Blue) Wiggle, founder, and last standing member of the group. Anthony, hosting the event with an ever-present smile, is more than a front person. Anthony embodies the essence of musical mastery and showmanship ascending to a godfather like status – albeit a benevolent and big hearted one.
It’s rare to find someone who hasn’t been brought up with The Wiggles or introduced their children to their music, this writer included. For those who may have been asleep in recent years, you should know that the Wiggles have seamlessly transformed into a larger line-up of eight members with a dynamic duo representing each of the four colours. So, it’s now double the fun! Alongside Anthony is Tsehay Hawkins, Lachy Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, Caterina Mete and Lucia Field. Added to this group is the next generational charge represented by Anthony’s talented daughter, Lucia Field, who fittingly wears the mantle of the iconic blue skivvy. Clearly the musical force is strong with Lucia through shared DNA of talent and passion.
This enduring bond across generations has played a pivotal role in solidifying the Wiggles’ status as one of the most enduring and time-tested bands. It’s not just the next generation of performers who continue the Wiggly legacy, but paradoxically the original fans who grew up with the Wiggles have evolved into a dynamic fanbase and now take their own children to the shows. The Wiggles offer a nostalgic connection with childhood whilst remaining relevant by bringing new members and ideas into the fold.
In the dim concert arena, Wiggle Torches and iPhone lights transformed the stands into a galaxy of twinkling stars and smiling faces. Acknowledging the obvious, Anthony mentions the presence of band Coldplay playing two full house shows to over 100,000 people at the nearby stadium. In response, he encourages the audience to join in and shine their torches brightly. “If Coldplay does this tonight, we’ll know where they got it from!”.
A Wiggles concert crowd is the performance as much as The Wiggles themselves through a strong audience bond fostered by the band’s humility and care. An ongoing interplay involving signs, spontaneous encounters with the audience and inflatable bouncing balls make it a fully immersive experience. As an aside, did this writer catch a subtle adults-only, wink-wink-nudge-nudge joke when reference was given to “bouncing balls”?
The musicians on stage transcend the ordinary, beaming constant smiles while singing and dancing. Anthony acknowledged Perth’s Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), highlighting that some of The Wiggles members are proud graduates of that esteemed institution. Impressive acrobatic feats coupled with the elegance of formal classical ballet elevate the performance to extraordinary heights. The Wiggles’ versatility is off the charts, leaving this writer in awe, contemplating the seemingly effortless mastery of their craft.
The Wiggles iconic chart toppers, recognised by everyone include: Hot Potato, Fruit Salad, Rock a Bye Your Bear and Dorothy (Would You Like to Dance?). These are now so woven into the fabric of Australian society that it would be challenging to imagine anyone who wouldn’t recognise these if they heard them.
The stage is a lively backdrop featuring a colourful rotation of short appearances from well-loved supporting characters such as Captain Feathersword (Paul Paddick has been the original character for 29 years now), Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, Shirley Shawn the Unicorn and Bok the Hand Puppet.
The grand finale culminated in a dazzling canon of ticker tape cascading from above, enveloping both stage and audience – a spectacular downpour of confetti turning the show’s conclusion into a vibrant rain of squeals of joy. The hour-long performance was perfectly timed for the young attention span.
Sheldon And Media would like to thank The Comms Department for the press accreditation.
About the Writer/Photographer: Erica is a freelance photographer who loves capturing images of live music and travel photography. She enjoys shooting film with vintage cameras and making prints in a home darkroom. She has lived in Japan, the UK and Nigeria. Erica holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia (UWA), majoring in English Literature and Economics, and a Certificate IV in Design.
Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to photograph and review the hottest acts in Perth including KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Sting, Harry Styles, Backstreet Boy, with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem, Toni Childs, and The Fabulous Caprittos on social media. Sheldon has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Ian Moss (Cold Chisel) and forty other legends.
