Tent Show Radio

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 six states and on podcast streaming platforms.

Tent Show Radio is independently produced by Big Top Chautauqua and is available at no cost to public radio stations and worldwide to listeners on a variety of streaming platforms.

Tent Show Radio is generously sponsored by:
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau, Bayfield County Tourism, The Bayfield Inn,
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce, Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Public Radio

Meet Michael Perry, the host of Tent Show Radio!

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 a dozen or so books including his bestselling memoirs Population: 485 (subsequently adapted for the stage), Truck: A Love Story, Coop, Visiting Tom, and Montaigne in Barn Boots.

Perry writes/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.

Learn more about Michael Perry here.

ARTISTS THAT HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON TENT SHOW RADIO

Arlo Guthrie
Asleep at the Wheel
B.B. King
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Bill Miller
Bill Monroe
Blackberry Smoke
Blue Canvas Orchestra
Bonnie Raitt
Brandi Carlile
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Chad Mitchell Trio
Chris Isaak
Cloud Cult
Don McLean
Gaelic Storm
Garrison Keillor
Great Big Sea
Greg Brown
Home Free
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
Howard Levy

Joan Baez
Johnny Cash
Johnny Lang
John Prine
Judy Collins
June Carter Cash
Kathy Mattea
Keb' Mo'
Los Lonely Boys
Luther Alison
Lyle Lovett
Merle Haggard
Michael Franti
Nanci Griffith
New Power Generation
Nickel Creek
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Pert Near Sandstone
Punch Brothers
Richie Havens
Ricky Skaggs

Riders in the Sky
Rusted Root
Sarah Watkins
Shakey Graves
Shawn Colvin
Shooter Jennings
Smother Brothers
Steve Earle
Suzanne Vega
Tall Heights
The Avett Brothers
The Bodeans
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Kingston Trio
The Oak Ridge Boys
The Whites
Todd Snider
Tommy Sands
Willie Nelson
Yonder Mountain String Band
Ziggy Marley

STATIONS THAT AIR TENT SHOW RADIO

Tent show Radio is broadcast each week on these fine independent stations.
Some stations offer “Live Air” streams which you can find more information on their websites listed below.