Big Top Chautauqua
Call 888-BIG-TENT
May Events
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Saturday, May 3
Big Top on Tour - Stillwater, MN
7:30 PM
Saturday, May 10
Big Top on Tour - Minneapolis, MN
8:00 PM
Sunday, May 11
Big Top on Tour - Minneapolis, MN
7:00 PM
Tuesday, May 13
Big Top on Tour - Elk River, MN
7:30 PM
Saturday, May 17
23rd Annual Tent Raising
7:00 AM

Move your mouse over highlighted dates to view events.
Click date for more details.

Summer Sponsor

Full Season Schedule
Join Our Mailing List
Make a Tax-Deductible Contribution
Volunteer Opportunities
Job Opportunities
Tour the Tent 380 View of Our Tent Contact Us Visitors
Performance Schedule About Big Top Big Top Gift Shop Big Top On Tour Tent Show Radio Supportors & Sponsors Shuttle Service Group Tours
Program Notes | Stations | Sponsors | Request a Promotional Packet

Program Notes

BIG TOP LIVE PERFORMANCES ON CD
C. Willi Myles
Greg Brown

The Best of....Tent Show Radio...Vol. 1 CD

THIS WEEK
TSR08-17 –
Old Last Night 2007 and the Blue Canvas Orchestra
First airing begins 4/26/2008; Second airing begins 10/25/2008

TSR08-18 – Wild River
First airing begins 5/3/2008; Second airing begins 11/1/2008
To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Wild Rivers Act, Tent Show Radio rebroadcasts WILD RIVER, Big Top Chautauqua's musical and storytelling celebration of the St. Croix River.   Warren Nelson leads the troupe in Part One of this extraordinary show which is a ritual in song, tributary by tributary, in honor of the rolling sweet waters.

TSR08-19– Wild River II
First airing begins 5/10/2008; Second airing begins 11/8/2008
Big Top Chautauqua's musical revue, WILD RIVER, continues this week on Tent Show Radio, featuring the Blue Canvas Orchestra and Singers.  Host Warren Nelson is your guide to the musical journey down the St. Croix River in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of its appointment as one of the first eight Wild and Scenic Rivers so designated in the United States.

TSR08-20
First airing begins 5/17/2008; Second airing begins 11/15/2008

TSR08-21
First airing begins 5/24/2008; Second airing begins 11/22/2008

TSR08-22
First airing begins 5/31/2008; Second airing begins 11/29/2008

TSR08-23
First airing begins 6/7/2008; Second airing begins 12/6/2008

TSR08-24
First airing begins 6/14/2008; Second airing begins 12/13/2008

TSR08-25
First airing begins 6/21/2008; Second airing begins 12/20/2008

TSR08-26
First airing begins 6/28/2008; Second airing begins 12/27/2008

TSR 08-01 – Pop Wagner & Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
First airing begins 1/5/2008; Second airing begins 7/5/2008
Host Warren Nelson welcomes you to Tent Show Radio's fifteenth broadcast season presenting the live summer shows of Big Top Chautauqua under canvas and over the air. The BLUE CANVAS ORCHESTRA opens the summer and welcomes POP WAGNER and legendary balladier RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT.

TSR 08-02 – B.B. King
First airing begins 1/12/2008; Second airing begins 7/12/2008
Who'd a thunk it? In this freshwater hour of Tent Show Radio, Big Top Chautauqua and host Warren Nelson welcome B.B. KING, the King of Blues, with the B.B.King Band and his guitar, Lucifer, in an extraordinary performance for all America.

TSR08-03 – Wisconsin Singers and Songwriters I
First airing begins 1/19/2008; Second airing begins 7/19/2008
Big Top Chautauqua host Warren Nelson sits in line on an evening with Wisconsin Singers and Songwriters, a two part series here on Tent Show Radio. Warren performs in this fresh water hour with L.J.Booth of Amherst, and John Smith of Trempealeau.

TSR08-04 - Wisconsin Singers & Songwriters II
First airing begins 1/26/2008; Second airing begins 7/26/2008
Eat cheese or die! Wisconsin Singers & Songwriters are featured in this hour of Tent Show Radio as Host Warren Nelson welcomes Jeffrey Focault, Willy Porter and Patty Larkin to the Big Top Chautauqua stage in a Round Robin Songfest not to be missed.

TSR08-05 - Robert Bly
First airing begins 2/2/2008; Second airing begins 8/2/2008
Minnesota poet Robert Bly is featured in this hour of Tent Show Radio surrounded by music of Big Top Chautauqua’s Blue Canvas Orchestra. “Robert has long been my mentor and teacher and his world voice we are honored to have with us tonight”, says Host Warren Nelson.

TSR08-06 - Kingston Trio
First airing begins 2/9/2008; Second airing begins 8/9/2008
The Kingston Trio, an American treasure, returns to Big Top Chautauqua and Tent Show Radio in this hour of the Kingston Trio playing their great old songs. “No original members standing, but this group was my first entrance to show business; and the current trio sounds fabulous”, spouts Tent Show Radio Host, Warren Nelson.

TSR08-07 – Best of Big Top Featuring Tim Hardin Songs
First airing begins 2/16/2008; Second airing begins 8/16/2008
In the freshwater hour of Tent Show Radio from Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, home band, the Blue Canvas Orchestra plays tribute to the songs of the late great Tim Hardin. “From If I Were a Carpenter to Reason to Believe and beyond, Tim was truly an amazing talent in the sixties. His songs live on and deserve to be heard again”, says Warren Nelson.

TSR08-08 - Otis and the Alligators & the Robert Cray Band
First airing begins 2/23/2008; Second airing begins 8/23/2008
Everybody has the blues in this hour of Tent Show Radio. Host Warren Nelson welcomes back Wisconsin treasure Otis McClennon in a reunion of Otis and the Alligators. They warm up for the Robert Cray Band, one of America's top blues ensembles.

TSR08-09 – Cherryholmes & Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
First airing begins 3/1/2008; Second airing begins 8/30/2008
Bluegrass rules on Tent Show Radio with Warren Nelson this week as Warren welcomes the amazing family band Cherryholmes back to the Big Top Chautauqua stage and intros Missouri girl Rhonda Vincent with her group, the Rage. An hour of live music to click and kick your heels to.

TSR08-10 – Garrison Keillor
First airing begins 3/8/2008; Second airing begins 9/6/2008
Garrison Keillor returns to Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua with his piano man, Rich Dvorskey, in this hour of Tent Show Radio. “Garrison is a true canvas tent show performer. We are honored to welcome him back”, says Host Warren Nelson.

TSR08-11- Centennial Green
First airing begins 3/15/2008; Second airing begins 9/13/2008
Under canvas and over the air, Tent Show Radio this week presents selections from the Big Top Chautauqua and Warren Nelson's new show, “CENTENNIAL GREEN: The Over and Understory of the Forest Service in Song”. Warren was commissioned to write a show honoring the great story of U.S. conservation over the past hundred years and beyond. The large cast of singers and players features Big Top Chautauqua's Blue Canvas Orchestra. “The U.S. is us, all of us, each and every one by one…and these public lands are the great old gift to our future,” states Warren. “We must like a river, deliver tomorrow today.”

TSR08-12 – Barra MacNeils and Natalie MacMaster
First airing begins 3/22/2008; Second airing begins 9/20/2008
The annual St. Patrick’s Day Tent Show Radio parade this year welcomes the Nova Scotia group the Barra MacNeils, celtic musicians extraordinaire. In the spotlight, the fiddling diva, Natalie MacMaster returns to the Big Top stage to a wide-awake and wild audience. Hosted by Warren Nelson.

TSR08-13 – Tish Hinojosa and the Santa Cruz River Band
First airing begins 3/29/2008; Second airing begins 9/27/2008
Tent Show Radio Host Warren Nelson is delighted this week to welcome back singer/songwriter extraordinaire, Tish Hinojosa and her ensemble. There's a strong sweetness in Tish's music…some great Tex-Mex that we need to hear more of in the North. Also appearing in this hour is the Santa Cruz River Band.

TSR08-14
First airing begins 4/5/2008; Second airing begins 10/4/2008

TSR08-15
First airing begins 4/12/2008; Second airing begins 10/11/2008

TSR08-16 – Corey Carlson Opens for America
First airing begins 4/19/2008; Second airing begins 10/18/2008

 


All Contents Copyright Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua
Performance Schedule/Tickets | About Big Top | Big Top Gift Shop | Big Top On Tour
Tent Show Radio | Supporters & Sponsors | Group Tours | Home