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.
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.
This Week on Tent Show Radio:
best of bco & friends | Episode 21-39
In 2019 we cut the band loose on some of their favorite songs from the season and from summers past. Severin Behnen leads the famed house band that has graced the Big Top stage since its founding in 1986. They are an eclectic blend of string instruments, driving rhythm section, and stunning voices that together rock the tent with their unique fusion of bluegrass, folk and jazzy blues.
*Originally aired April 2021
*Originally aired April 2021
Last week:
DIFFERENT DRUMS OF IRELAND | EPISODE 21-38
This week, Different Drums of Ireland joins us on Tent Show Radio. Different Drums brings the indigenous drums of Ireland, the Lambeg and the Bodhran together for the first time ever in celebratory performance. The music also features the Uilleann or elbow pipes, whistles, guitar, snares, long drum, 4 voices and is driven by the engine of the African djembe. Adding myriad percussion and other instruments to original and traditional songs makes a unique and exciting combination of traditions and sounds. A unique celebration of cultural diversity and linkages-- The band has played across the world, for everyone from US & Irish presidents to school children – The message is the same Celebrate that which makes us different and that which bonds us together, “…an amazing sensory experience, the vibrant drum playing is genuinely stunning but over the top we hear whistles and pipes playing flying melodies with gorgeous ballads and spoken word sections…” Woven wheat whisper.
*Originally aired March 2021
*Originally aired March 2021
Past Episodes
For an archive of shows dating back to 2011, please visit the Public Radio Exchange: HERE
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!
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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Our Mission StatementLake Superior Big Top Chautauqua provides entertaining and educational cultural activities with an emphasis on performances that celebrate history and the environment.
Our primary strategies to accomplish our mission are:
Past Performers (click to expand)
Big Top Chautauqua has presented over 30 years of outstanding performances! Here are just some of the artists who have performed at the Big Top:
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Our own unique brand of shows feature songs and stories performed by Big Top’s Blue Canvas Orchestra and Singers. Together with a multitude of talented guest artists, our original productions bear the hallmark of exquisite musicianship illustrated by big-screen visuals. In addition to performances at Big Top, the Blue Canvas Orchestra tours throughout the region.
Big Top also produces the nationally-broadcast radio show “Tent Show Radio” heard on Wisconsin Public Radio and other listener-supported stations. This weekly one hour program relives the highlights of shows from the previous season at the Big Top stage. It is online and aired on public radio stations throughout the country with its host, Michael Perry. During intermission of each show, Mike 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. "Tent Show Radio" is also available for streaming at www.tentshowradio.org.
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