Tent Show Radio

Born and raised in Byrdstown, Tennessee Sierra Hull attended Pickett County High School before accepting a Presidential Scholarship to study at the prestigious Berklee School of Music.  Hull began playing the mandolin at the age of eight and put out the album Angel Mountain at age 10. Hull was soon playing jam sessions with other musicians in her family, and by 2001 she was entering local talent contests.  At age 11 she was mentored and befriended by Alison Krauss, herself once a child prodigy on the fiddle.  Hull is now touring in support of her latest release, Day Break.  Her performance at the tent was breathtaking. 

In this episode’s monologue – delivered from the backstage dressing room with the one lonely little lightbulb burnin’ – Mike explains why he is a dumb person with a smart phone. - 

Cory Chisel is an Americana, folk rock songwriter that started in Appleton, Wisconsin.  Often performing with his band the Wandering Sons.  The band was signed to RCA Records subsidiary Black Seal Music in 2007. Black Seal has since ceased to exist and the band remains independent.  The band has performed on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Conan” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Chisel and the Wandering Sons toured in support of Norah Jones in 2012. Chisel also helped launch a music festival, Mile of Music, in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he spent several years of his youth. Its first year, 2013, featured Rodney Crowell, Justin Townes Earle and Norah Jones.  We are very pleased to finally allure him to our stage!

In this episode’s monologue – delivered from the backstage dressing room with the one lonely little lightbulb burnin’ – Mike talks about how he both fights and celebrates light pollution on the back forty. 

Having collaborated with one another for two decades, Rusted Root, has honed the perfect combination of musical intuition, freedom and virtuosity, which has allowed them to organically shape shift their music into their own distinct and undeniable vision. With eight albums under their belt, over three million records sold worldwide and countless nights on the road, Rusted Root, transcends age, generations, cultures and musical styles. Their music has been featured in films like Ice Age, Twister and Matilda, TV shows like New Girl, Ally McBeal, Charmed and Chuck as well as recent Enterprise Rent-A-Car commercials.  Please put your hands together as we welcome Rusted Root to the Big Top stage! -

...and in this episode Mike reveals why, when and how to pitch a fit.

Welcome to a exciting new fresh water season of Tent Show Radio.  Kicking off the season as we often do with our very own Blue Canvas Orchestra with special musical guests Corey Carlson and Danielle Diamond.

Tent Show Radio is a weekly one-hour music series showcasing live performances from Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield Wisconsin.

Airing continuously since 1994, Tent Show Radio is hosted by farmer, humorist, New York Times best-selling author, volunteer firefighter, Michael Perry and features regional and national acts with regular contributions by the Big Top’s Blue Canvas Orchestra.

Michael Perry is a humorist and author of the bestselling memoir Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time, and the essay collection Off Main Street. Perry has written for Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, Outside, Backpacker, Orion and Salon.com, and is a contributing editor to Men’s Health. His essays have been heard on NPR’s All Things Considered and he has performed and produced two live audience recordings (I Got It From the Cows and Never Stand Behind a Sneezing Cow). Perry lives in rural Wisconsin, where he remains active as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical responder. He can be found online at www.sneezingcow.com

In 2014, Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua will celebrate its 29th season under canvas on the south shore sands of Lake Superior near Bayfield, Wisconsin. Big Top Chautauqua is a non-profit performing arts organization. For more information visit www.bigtop.org or www.tentshowradio.org

Welcome to another episode of Tent Show Radio recorded live from the beautiful Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, Wisconsin featuring author/host Michael Perry, Big Top Chautauqua's Blue Canvas Orchestra and special musical guests Dead Horses and Count This Penny.

Welcome to another episode of Tent show Radio recorded live in concert from the historc Grand Theater in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin.  Featuring author/host Michael Perry, Big Top Chautauqua's Blue Canvas Orchestra and special musical guests from Duluth, MN Charlie Parr and Native American songwriter Frank Montano.

Featuring host Michael Perry and Big Top's Blue Canvas Orchestra and special musical guests.

Featuring author/host Michael Perry, Blue Canvas Orchestra and special musical guests Ida Jo and Blessed Feathers.  Live from the Capitol Theater in beautiful downtown Madison, Wisconsin.

Featuring host Michael Perry and special musical guests from Nashville, TN, Grammy Nominated Della Mae!

Featuring some of our favorite performances from over the years including: Steve Earle, Michael Perry, Brandi Carlile, Aoife O'Donovan, Cloud Cult, Taj Mahal, Elephant Revival, Punch Brothers, The Pines, Greg Brown and host Michael Perry.