The Chapmans have released a behind-the-scenes, “making of” video chronicling the location shoot for their new music video, Bubble Gum Baby.

The song will be included on their upcoming CD, Grown Up – A Revisionist History. In keeping with the Chapmans’ personality, the video is a fun, lighthearted piece – as befits the theme of the next album.

Jeremy Chapman describes it thusly…

“It’s our 20th anniversary CD featuring a new take on some of the early songs we played when we were kids.  We thought it would be fun to see what we could make of those old songs with the skills we’ve picked up over the years. It’s also the only way we ever would have picked Bubble Gum Baby to record, which I’m glad we did, because I think it turned out really cool, and fun.

Once we completed recording, we recruited the skills of Sid McGregor to direct a music video, and I think he and his crew came up with the perfect video for the song.”

Here’s a taste from their video tease.

The Chapmans recently filmed a new music video for their tune Bubble Gum Baby, and they’ve released some behind the scenes photos on their Facebook page.

Bubble Gum Baby is track 5 from their newest CD Grown up (A Revisionist History). From the look of the photos, it looks as though the video will share some elements with the CD cover design.

The photo gallery on the band’s facebook page includes 17 photos. Some give you an idea of what the video should look like, others give you a behind the scenes look at the technical aspects of making the video, and still others show you what’s really happening at these video shoots! Take, for instance, this photo.

If you would like to see the rest of the photos from the video shoot, just visit The Chapman’s on Facebook.

We’ll be sure to bring you news of the video once it’s released.

The Chapmans are marking their 2oth anniversary as a band during 2009, and have decided that it’s about time to branch out and bring in someone from outside the family.

Fiddler Tyler Beckett from Owen Sound, Canada will perform with The Chpamans for the first time July 11th in St. Louis, New Brunswick, Canada after which he will be relocating to the Ozarks to join the band full time.

Mandolin man Jeremy Chapman tells us that it was a natural fit from the first time they met Beckett…

“We met Tyler when we were in Huntsville, ONT in Oct of 2008 playing at the Canadian Bluegrass Awards show. He was playing with a couple of bands Hard Ryde, and Traditionally Wound Bluegrass and we really liked his playing. We ended up jamming with him late into the night and told him if he ever wanted to move down to the states and play full time to give us a call.

Not long after he decided Springfield, MO was a good place for him, mostly because of the Bass Pro Shops headquarters, and the deer and turkey hunting. He came down for a few days of rehearsals in April, and we all agreed it would be a great fit with The Chapmans.

We’re all excited about the new sound that a fiddle in the band is adding, and it’s forcing us to rethink the way we play the same old songs with a new instrument being thrown into the mix. Plus he’s a great musician, which is always fun to be around.”

You can follow their 2009 summer schedule on The Chapmans’ web site and on MySpace.

Longtime readers of The Bluegrass Blog will recall the story of Kylie Chapman which we covered earlier this year. She is the infant daughter of John Chapman and his wife Vickie, who was born on March 22, 2008.

John, Vickie and all of The Chapmans soon saw their joy turn to grave concern as when it became clear that Kylie had suffered complications that required an emergency C-section and a flight to a hospital where she could receive specialized treatment.

Fortunately, she came through just fine and is growing strong and healthy at home with her family.

A video has been posted on The Chapman’s web site, Chap-TV, which chronicles the family’s ordeal, and the final very happy ending. Mixing still and video footage, it offers a personal glimpse of the nearly two weeks between Kylie’s birth and her homecoming. Fans and friends of the band will find solace and comfort in this poignant presentation, as will anyone who can identify with this sort of family health crisis.

While visiting Chap-TV, check out a video on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, the hilarious Chapmans Pretzel Challenge.

It stars former bass player Jamey Booher (now with Grasstowne) and is not to be missed.

To see the videos, just visit chapmansonline.com, click the Chap-TV link, and scroll horizontally to find the various clips.