‘Make it wiggly’: How The Wiggles set the standard for kid’s entertainment
Our guest on today’s show are one of the biggest bands ever to appear on World Cafe. They’ve released several multiplatinum albums, perform for an estimated 1 million people every year at sold-out arena shows, and have won 16 ARIA Awards in their home country of Australia. For 35 years, they’ve drawn crowds of adoring fans who know almost every word to every song.
We’re talking, of course, about The Wiggles.
So when we had the chance to bring The Wiggles — all eight of them, plus the Tree of Wisdom, Captain Feathersword and more — into the World Cafe studio for a live performance, we knew it was going to be something special. And as you’re about to hear, it really was.
Even if you didn’t grow up with The Wiggles, and even if you don’t have kids in your life, we urge you to stick around. This is one of the most joyful, fun World Cafe sessions we’ve ever recorded.
Coming up, our conversation with original member and Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, along with one of the group’s newest members, Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins, who joined in 2022.
Plus, The Wiggles perform a medley of their biggest hits and a “wiggly” cover of Olivia Dean‘s megahit, “Man I Need.”
This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Miguel Perez. Our senior producer is Kimberly Junod and our engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and booking coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus.
