Tent Show Radio

Series produced by Tent Show Radio

Series image

Available for free and hosted by best-selling author Michael Perry, Tent Show Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program showcasing the best live recordings from acclaimed music acts and entertainers who grace the Big Top Chautauqua stage.

First broadcast in 1994, Tent Show Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program showcasing the best live recordings from acclaimed music acts and entertainers who grace the Big Top Chautauqua stage each summer in beautiful Bayfield, WI. In the program's nearly 30-year history, it has featured artists like Johnny Cash, B.B King, Brandi Carlile, Willie Nelson, Don McLean, and many more. Hosted by celebrated New York Times best-selling author Michael Perry-who weaves stories and humor throughout each episode - Tent Show Radio features performances from renowned national & regional artists, with regular appearances featuring Big Top’s unique brand of shows that feature songs and stories performed by its acclaimed house band, The Blue Canvas Orchestra.

Tent Show Radio is independently produced by Big Top Chautauqua, a non-profit performing arts organization founded in 1986, with a mission to present performances and events that celebrate history, culture, and the environment - along with their annual summer concert series - nestled in the woods on the shores of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands. Hide full description

First broadcast in 1994, Tent Show Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program showcasing the best live recordings from acclaimed music acts and entertainers who grace the Big Top Chautauqua stage each summer in beautiful Bayfield, WI. In the program's nearly 30-year history, it has featured artists like Johnny Cash, B.B King, Brandi Carlile, Willie Nelson, Don McLean, and many more. Hosted by celebrated New York Times best-selling author Michael Perry-who weaves stories and humor throughout each episode - Tent Show Radio features performances from renowned national & regional artists, with regular appearances featuring Big Top’s unique brand of shows that feature songs and stories performed by its acclaimed house band, The Blue Canvas Orchestra.Tent Show Radio is independently produced by... Show full description


373 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Cloud Cult, originally from Duluth, is an experimental chamber rock band that has sold more than 100,000 albums via their own label, Earthology Rec...

Bought by KMXT, KALH, WTIP, WRNC-LP, WPCA-LP and more


  • Added: Apr 07, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 10
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For thirty-five years Riders in the Sky have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. While rema...

Bought by KMXT, KPIP-LP, WTIP, KALH, WDSE and more


  • Added: Apr 07, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 9
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Charlie Daniels is partly Western and partly Southern. His signature “bullrider” hat and belt buckle, his lifestyle on the Twin Pines Ranch (a boyh...

Bought by KMXT, WTIP, KALH, KPIP-LP, WDSE and more


  • Added: Apr 25, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 9
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Over the course of 10 albums and nearly 3,000 live shows, Gaelic Storm — the chart-topping, multi-national Celtic band — is dishing up a hearty ser...

Bought by KMXT, KPIP-LP, WTIP, KALH, KSJE and more


  • Added: Apr 27, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 9
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Ireland’s Folk Band of the Year, The High Kings, is Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden. Coming from impressive musical pe...

Bought by KMXT, WTIP, KALH, KSJE, WDSE and more


  • Added: May 09, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 10
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Country a cappella band Home Free was crowned Champions of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” in 2013 launching them onto the national spotlight. The group, hail...

Bought by KMXT, WTIP, KALH, KSJE, WDSE and more


  • Added: May 11, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 10
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The Blue Canvas Orchestra (BCO) is Chautauqua’s house band that, together with co-founder and Visuals Director Betty Ferris, provides the entertain...

Bought by KMXT, WTIP, KPIP-LP, KALH, KSJE and more


  • Added: May 23, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 10
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The Quebe’s unique brand of music has taken the Americana music scene by storm. Touring in support of their latest album, Every Which-A-Way, some o...

Bought by KMXT, WTIP, KALH, KSRQ, KSJE and more


  • Added: May 30, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 10
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Ronny Cox is a superbly talented singer-songwriter, musician and actor who has been consistently active in music and Hollywood for over 40 years – ...

Bought by KMXT, WTIP, WPCA-LP, KPIP-LP, KALH and more


  • Added: Jun 15, 2016
  • Length: 59:31
  • Purchases: 10
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Opening the program, The Cactus Blossoms, brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum grew up in northeast Minneapolis and have been blending their voices...

Bought by WTIP, KMXT, KALH, KSRQ, KMSU and more


  • Added: Jun 15, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 10
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Perhaps the biggest new hit of last summer was this musical gem from the team of Severin Behnen, Stevie Matier and Bruce Burnside. Belfast to Blueg...

Bought by WTIP, KMXT, KALH, KSRQ, KMSU and more


  • Added: Jun 21, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 11
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While strongly rooted in bluegrass, old-time, and folk music, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades produces a sound that draws on the vaults of music collect...

Bought by KMSU, WTIP, KMXT, WRNC-LP, KSRQ and more


  • Added: Apr 14, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 9
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Yonder Mountain String Band bends bluegrass, rock and other influences, pioneering a genre-defying sound of their own. The Colorado-based foursome ...

Bought by WTIP, KALH, KSRQ, KMSU, WDSE and more


  • Added: Jan 05, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 8
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The Barefoot Movement has become a Big Top favorite, returning for their third time as the leaders of our annual Bluegrass Camp for Kids. They were...

Bought by KSRQ, WTIP, KSJE, KSRQ, WDSE and more


  • Added: Jan 12, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:10
  • Purchases: 9
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Rolling Stone calls moe. a “legendary jam band.” They are a celebrated progressive rock band with 20 years of touring and just as many albums under...

Bought by KSRQ, WTIP, KSJE, WPCA-LP, KMSU and more


  • Added: Jan 20, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:00
  • Purchases: 7
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Mandolin Orange makes their Big Top debut. The duo of multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriters Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin delivers “honest musi...

Bought by KSRQ, KMSU, KSJE, WDSE, WPCA-LP and more


  • Added: Feb 02, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:30
  • Purchases: 7
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Rising out of the prairies of the Midwest, The Pines are one of the most distinct and powerful indie-rock/Americana groups to hit the national scen...

Bought by KALH, WTIP, WRNC-LP, KMSU, KSJE and more


  • Added: Feb 08, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:30
  • Purchases: 9
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Kris Kristofferson is heralded as an artist’s artist, the three-time GRAMMY winner has recorded 29 albums, including three with pals Willie Nelson,...

Bought by KFCF FM, KALH, KSRQ, KMSU, KSJE and more


  • Added: Feb 27, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:40
  • Purchases: 9
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After nearly two decades and more than 3,000 live shows, Gaelic Storm — the chart-topping, multi-national Celtic band — is looking sharper than ev...

Bought by WTIP, KSRQ, KMSU, KSJE, WDSE and more


  • Added: Mar 01, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:30
  • Purchases: 8
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That simple line atop Elephant Revival’s Facebook page contains only five words, but reveals volumes about the band’s reason for being. Music unite...

Bought by WTIP, KSRQ, KMSU, KSJE, WRNC-LP and more


  • Added: Mar 13, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:30
  • Purchases: 8