100 episodes
Tent Show Radio Tent Show Radio
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- Music
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4.7 • 21 Ratings
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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 own 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, with a mission to present performances and events that celebrate history and the environment - along with their annual summer concert series - nestled in the woods on the shores of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands.
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Riders In The Sky
On this episode of Tent Show Radio, enjoy masterful musicianship and quick-witted humor from Grammy Award winners Riders In The Sky!
Regarded as one of the “most historically significant acts in the history of American music” by Billboard magazine, the GRAMMY award-winning quartet of Ranger Doug, Woody Paul, Too Slim, and Joey the Cowpolka King, have kept the heritage of Western music alive as they have entertained audiences across the world for more than 40 years. Riders In The Sky kick off each performance with their trademark greeting, “Mighty fine and a great big Western ‘Howdy,’ all you buckaroos and buckarettes,” their live shows showcase each player’s masterful musicianship with an added dose of broad, quick-witted humor as they pay tribute to the classic cowboy songs of the 1930s and ‘40s.
Since their start in 1977, Riders In The Sky have released more than 40 albums, starred in the anthology television series “Tumbleweed Theater,” wrote and starred in their NPR syndicated radio program “Riders Radio Theater,” hosted their own children’s program on CBS, and have made more than 7,000 appearances all over the world. The Grand Ole Opry and Western Music Hall of Fame inductees have become well-known to new generations for their work with Disney & Pixar, notably their tune “Woody’s Roundup” from Toy Story 2 and the full-length GRAMMY award-winning companion albums for Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc.
EPISODE CREDITS
Michael Perry - Host
Phillip Anich - Announcer
Gina Nagro - Marketing Support
FOLLOW BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA
https://www.facebook.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.instagram.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtopchautauqua
https://twitter.com/BigBlueTent
FOLLOW HOST MICHAEL PERRY
https://sneezingcow.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sneezingcow
https://www.instagram.com/sneezingcow/
https://twitter.com/sneezingcow/
2024 TENT SHOW RADIO SPONSORS
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.visitashland.com/
Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau - https://www.bayfield.org/
Bayfield County Tourism - https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/150/Tourism
The Bayfield Inn - https://bayfieldinn.com/
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cable4fun.com/
Kylmala Truss - https://www.kylmalatruss.com/
SPECIAL THANKS
Wisconsin Public Radio - https://www.wpr.org/ -
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
On this episode of Tent Show Radio, enjoy a thrilling hour of music from South Africa’s Five Time Grammy Award winning singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Called South Africa’s Cultural Ambassadors to the World by Nelson Mandela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was founded in the early 1960s by Joseph Shabalala, then a teenage Zulu farm boy living on the lands just outside the small town of Ladysmith. In 1970, a radio broadcast of one of their concerts opened the door to their first record contract. Singing a traditional style called isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-Ya), developed in the mines of South Africa, they collaborated with Paul Simon, incorporating their rich harmonies into the Graceland album (1986) – a landmark recording considered seminal in introducing World Music to mainstream audiences.
The group would go on to record with Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Emmylou Harris and many others. They provided music for many movies, have appeared on Broadway and were even the subjects of a documentary film, On Tip Toe: The Story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Their historic recording career includes over seventy albums, earning nineteen Grammy Award nominations and five Grammy Award wins, more than any other World Music group. They earned Grammys for their albums: Shaka Zulu (1988), Raise Your Spirit Higher (2004), Ilembe (2009), Singing For Peace Around the World (2013) and most recently Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30 Year Anniversary Celebration (2017).
EPISODE CREDITS
Michael Perry - Host
Phillip Anich - Announcer
Gina Nagro - Marketing Support
FOLLOW BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA
https://www.facebook.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.instagram.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtopchautauqua
https://twitter.com/BigBlueTent
FOLLOW HOST MICHAEL PERRY
https://sneezingcow.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sneezingcow
https://www.instagram.com/sneezingcow/
https://twitter.com/sneezingcow/
2024 TENT SHOW RADIO SPONSORS
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.visitashland.com/
Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau - https://www.bayfield.org/
Bayfield County Tourism - https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/150/Tourism
The Bayfield Inn - https://bayfieldinn.com/
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cable4fun.com/
Kylmala Truss - https://www.kylmalatruss.com/
SPECIAL THANKS
Wisconsin Public Radio - https://www.wpr.org/ -
Them Coulee Boys
On this episode of Tent Show Radio, experience a high voltage hour of countrified rock & roll as Wisconsin bred band Them Coulee Boys play tunes from their album Namesake.
Them Coulee Boys craft a brand of Americana that blends folk, punk, bluegrass, and rock & roll. They sing their conversational songs in 4-part harmony, often with a banjo stomp and rhythm section punch that drives the audience onto the dance floor and into community. Their trusty van has propelled them thousands of miles across the country and into the hearts of strangers, who tend to leave each show as family.
Soren Staff and Beau Janke, who both grew up amidst a stretch of glacial melt-carved river valleys in the upper Midwest, and more often than not could be found with an instrument in hand, became fast friends and formed their electric music partnership, after having met as counselors at a bible camp in northern Wisconsin in 2011. The duo played their first gigs as the rough-around-the-edges folk/rock/Americana outfit Them Coulee Boys in 2013. The additions of Jens Staff on mandolin, Neil Kraus on guitar & bass, and Stas Hable on drums helped to grow the band into the rollicking outfit it is today.
With three full-length albums and an EP behind them, including 2019’s Die Happy, they released their fourth studio album Namesake in 2021. The new album feels familial, like old friends with no need for small talk. There are moments of power and punch, balanced with an intimacy only felt between the ones we love. The ten-song collection spans from pure and genuine ballads to a leaping, countrified take on rock and roll. Namesake finds Them Coulee Boys following a new trajectory, combining their signature take on folk-grass and Americana with comfort on electric instruments and playing rock and roll. The record lives and breathes. It’s both intimate and bombastic.
EPISODE CREDITS
Michael Perry - Host
Phillip Anich - Announcer
Matt Jugeinhemer - Engineer
Gina Nagro - Marketing Support
FOLLOW BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA
https://www.facebook.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.instagram.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtopchautauqua
https://twitter.com/BigBlueTent
FOLLOW HOST MICHAEL PERRY
https://sneezingcow.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sneezingcow
https://www.instagram.com/sneezingcow/
https://twitter.com/sneezingcow/
2024 TENT SHOW RADIO SPONSORS
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.visitashland.com/
Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau - https://www.bayfield.org/
Bayfield County Tourism - https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/150/Tourism
The Bayfield Inn - https://bayfieldinn.com/
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cable4fun.com/
Kylmala Truss - https://www.kylmalatruss.com/
SPECIAL THANKS
Wisconsin Public Radio - https://www.wpr.org/ -
Anishinaabe Dibaajimowin: An Ojibwe Story
On this poignant episode of Tent Show Radio, celebrate the rich culture, history, and spirit of the Anishinaabe people in a musical theatre experience that honors the indigenous peoples of the Great Lakes region. The acclaimed original show “Anishinaabe Dibaajimowin: An Ojibwe Story,” which debuted in 2021, features Michael “Laughing Fox” Charette and Severin Behen, members of the Blue Canvas Orchestra, and artists from Red Cliff, Bad River, LCO, and Fond du Lac.
Observe, as talented indigenous artists and tribal elders, weave compelling stories with profound and lucid narrations that convey their rich oral traditions and moments of significant history in their culture - the establishment of treaty rights and the protection of indigenous children. Traditional and modern music merge with ancient storytelling that meets spoken word and hip-hop while you journey through the legends, history, and hardships of the Anishinaabe people.
EPISODE CREDITS
Michael Perry - Host
Phillip Anich - Announcer
Matt Jugeinhemer - Engineer
Gina Nagro - Marketing Support
FOLLOW BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA
https://www.facebook.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.instagram.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtopchautauqua
https://twitter.com/BigBlueTent
FOLLOW HOST MICHAEL PERRY
https://sneezingcow.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sneezingcow
https://www.instagram.com/sneezingcow/
https://twitter.com/sneezingcow/
2024 TENT SHOW RADIO SPONSORS
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.visitashland.com/
Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau - https://www.bayfield.org/
Bayfield County Tourism - https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/150/Tourism
The Bayfield Inn - https://bayfieldinn.com/
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cable4fun.com/
Kylmala Truss - https://www.kylmalatruss.com/
SPECIAL THANKS
Wisconsin Public Radio - https://www.wpr.org/ -
Different Drums of Ireland
On this special throwback episode of Tent Show Radio, Different Drums of Ireland take the stage for a celebratory performance showcasing Irelands unique indigenous sounds and rich cultural diversity.
Different Drums of Ireland was created in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1991 as an exercise to use art and music as a vehicle to do something positive in the community. Different Drums of Ireland celebrates the musical traditions, customs, and sounds of that wee part of the world, crossing boundaries in an effort to promote peace and unity. Primarily a joint celebration of the Bodhrán and the Lambeg, drums seen as representative of the Nationalist and Unionist cultures respectively in Ireland, Different Drums of Ireland play a unique form of Irish music which also borrows from other cultures. Influenced by the Kodo drummers from Japan, they explore a wide variety of percussive sounds as the employ the African Djembe drum for the rhythmic engine of the band and you’ll also hear the high-tension snare and various other percussion from around the world.
As Different Drums of Ireland, Roy Arbuckle, Stevie Matier, Dolores O'Hare, Paul Marshall, & Richard Campbell have played across the world, for everyone from US & Irish presidents to school children. Their performances are a unique celebration of cultural diversity and linkages - the sound and passion of Different Drums of Ireland is something truly unique and unforgettable.
EPISODE CREDITS
Michael Perry - Host
Phillip Anich - Announcer
Gina Nagro - Marketing Support
FOLLOW BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA
https://www.facebook.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.instagram.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtopchautauqua
https://twitter.com/BigBlueTent
FOLLOW HOST MICHAEL PERRY
https://sneezingcow.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sneezingcow
https://www.instagram.com/sneezingcow/
https://twitter.com/sneezingcow/
2024 TENT SHOW RADIO SPONSORS
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.visitashland.com/
Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau - https://www.bayfield.org/
Bayfield County Tourism - https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/150/Tourism
The Bayfield Inn - https://bayfieldinn.com/
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cable4fun.com/
Kylmala Truss - https://www.kylmalatruss.com/
SPECIAL THANKS
Wisconsin Public Radio - https://www.wpr.org/ -
Joyann Parker: The Music of Patsy Cline
On this episode of Tent Show Radio, enjoy a nostalgic trip back in time as Joyann Parker beautifully weaves the stories of Patsy Cline’s life and career in and out of the music you know and love. In this powerful tribute performance, Parker and her seasoned band showcase the most popular and best loved of Pasty’s songs. Vintage costumes and ambiance enhance Joyann’s uncanny and authentic channeling of Cline’s classic vocals. Hear Patsy’s iconic songs like “Crazy,” “Walking After Midnight,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Faded Love,” “Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray,” “She’s Got You” and many more!
A northern Wisconsin native, Joyann Parker, like many artists, discovered her love of music at a very young age. While the multifaceted and versatile performer found her authentic voice later in life, she has created her inimitable blend of roots music that fuses soul, gospel, R&B, and traditional blues - combined with a voice that is booming and soulful - Joyann Parker is establishing herself as a masterclass performer. Steadily a rising star on the Midwest music scene, with two critically acclaimed studio albums under her belt, 2018's Hard to Love, and 2021's Out of the Dark, numerous award nominations, and opening for award-winning artists like Robert Cray and Elvin Bishop, Parker is now bringing her full range of talent as an accomplished singer, pianist, guitarist and songwriter to national and international stages.
EPISODE CREDITS
Michael Perry - Host
Phillip Anich - Announcer
Jaime Hansen - Engineer
Gina Nagro - Marketing Support
FOLLOW BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA
https://www.facebook.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.instagram.com/bigtopchautauqua/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtopchautauqua
https://twitter.com/BigBlueTent
FOLLOW HOST MICHAEL PERRY
https://sneezingcow.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sneezingcow
https://www.instagram.com/sneezingcow/
https://twitter.com/sneezingcow/
2024 TENT SHOW RADIO SPONSORS
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.visitashland.com/
Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau - https://www.bayfield.org/
Bayfield County Tourism - https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/150/Tourism
The Bayfield Inn - https://bayfieldinn.com/
Cable Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cable4fun.com/
Kylmala Truss - https://www.kylmalatruss.com/
SPECIAL THANKS
Wisconsin Public Radio - https://www.wpr.org/
Customer Reviews
Love this!
Having lived ten years on the south shore of Lake Superior, I’ve learned to enjoy Big Top. Now that I’ve moved I’m so grateful to learn of this as a podcast. Now I can enjoy a little bit of Chequamegon Bay even down here in southern WI. Such a great collection of musicians, actors, singers, and characters!