First broadcast in 1994, Tent Show Radio is a one-hour weekly radio  program created from the best live recordings from acclaimed musical acts who grace the Big Top Chautauqua stage each summer in beautiful Bayfield, WI.  During intermission, host Michael Perry spins a story “from the backstage dressing room, with the one lonely little light bulb burning."  Topics range from Mike’s battles with trees, to the behavior of rogue chickens, to the search for hope while stoking a wood stove in the darkness. ​ Running 52 weeks a year, Tent Show Radio is broadcast on 31 listener supported radio stations across 6 states and on most podcast streaming platforms.

Tent Show Radio is independently produced by Big Top Chautauqua and is made available around the country at no cost to public radio stations and around the world to listeners on Google Play, iHeartRadio, iPhone/iPad App, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio.

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This Week on Tent Show Radio:
BLUE CANVAS ORCHESTRA - IRIS DEMENT - GREG BROWBN | Episode 21-43

This episode of Tent Show Radio includes performance by Grammy nominated singer songwriter Iris DeMent, American Folk musician Greg Brown, and Big Top's very own Blue Canvas Orchestra

Last week: ​
NANCI GRIFFITH | Episode 21-42

Nanci Griffith was a Grammy award winning American singer, songwriter, and musician, known for blending together Country & Folk music stylings. Throughout her life she had multiple appearances on Austin City Limits, and had an illustrious touring career. In 2008, Griffith was awarded the Lifetime Americana Trailblazer Award by the Americana Music Association. ​

Past Episodes

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For an archive of shows dating back to 2011, please visit the Public Radio Exchange:  HERE
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Who has played on Tent Show Radio?

Bill Monroe                                                        Johnny Cash                      Luther Alison    
Yonder Mountain String Band                         Shooter Jennings              Suzanne Vega
Joan Baez                                                          Steve Earle                         Sarah Watkins
Bonnie Raitt                                                      Gaelic Storm                      Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Garrison Keillor                                                 Bill Miller                            Avett Brothers
Greg Brown                                                       Great Big Sea                     June Carter Cash
Chad Mitchell Trio                                            Willie Nelson                      Smother Brothers
Oak Ridge Boys                                                Nanci Griffith                      Arlo Guthrie
Merle Haggard                                                  Taj Mahal                            Kathy Mattea
Judy Collins                                                       Shawn Colvin                     Richie Havens
B.B. King                                                            Brandi Carlilse                     Tommy Sands                   
Los Lonely Boys                                                Keb’ Mo’                             Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Howard Levy                                                     Chris Isaak                          Pert Near Sandstone
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades                        Todd Snider                        Michael Franti
Buffy Sainte-Marie                                           The Bodeans                      Home Free
Jonny Lang                                                        Rusted Root                       The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Lyle Lovett                                                         Ricky Skaggs                       Don McLean …and many more!

The Host
Each week Wisconsin’s own award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, humorist Michael Perry takes listeners Backstage at the Big Top. Michael Perry is the author of the bestselling memoir “Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time,” and the essay collection “Off Main Street.” Perry writes a weekly column for and has written for Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, Outside, Backpacker, Orion, and Salon.com. His essays have been heard on NPR’s All Things Considered and Michael Perry is also a contributing editor to Men’s Health.

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