Decibels Film Fest: We Are The Shaggs

Decibels Film Fest presents *We Are The Shaggs*, a 98-minute documentary about the unusual rise of The Shaggs, a teenage band from Fremont, New Hampshire, whose unconventional music eventually made them icons of outsider art. The film follows sisters Dot, Helen, and Betty Wiggin, who were removed from school by their father, Austin, and instructed to form a band despite having little musical training. Their younger sister Rachel occasionally joined them for local performances.

The documentary traces the group’s early years of weekly heckling, the recording of their 1969 album *Philosophy of the World*, and the sisters’ return to ordinary life after their father’s death in 1975. It then examines how The Shaggs gained a devoted cult following in the 1990s, attracting admirers such as Frank Zappa, Patti Smith, and Kurt Cobain. Director Ken Kwapis explores the band’s out-of-tune guitars, irregular rhythms, and unconventional chords, while music experts argue for the intuitive brilliance behind their sound. Surviving Shaggs members Dot and Betty reflect with bemusement on their unexpected legacy.

When: November 21, 2026

Showtimes: Saturday, November 21 at 12:00 PM

Run time: 98 minutes

Tickets: Price not available

Ticket link: https://decibels.eventive.org/schedule/6abd329ad68190e4b7b564a8

Venue: Cinema Salem

Festival: Decibels Film Fest

Director: Ken Kwapis

Featured subjects: Dot, Helen, and Betty Wiggin, with discussion of younger sister Rachel and surviving members Dot and Betty

Background: The Shaggs recorded *Philosophy of the World* in 1969 and later became influential cult figures in outsider music.

Age information: Not provided

Accessibility information: Not provided