Feb 27, 2021
The Blue Canvas Orchestra has been the Big Top Chautauqua's house band since its founding in 1986. Severin Behnen has led the famed house band to include 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. This 'Best of' show handpicks shows from 1997, 2002 and 2006 to make a truly exciting hour of music!
First broadcast in
1994, Tent Show Radio is a one-hour public 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 also available
for streaming at www.tentshowradio.org.
Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua was founded in 1986. The first
show under canvas was the Nelson-Ferris Concert Company
Production Riding the Wind, the story of Bayfield and
Madeline Island. Since then Big Top has welcomed
over 700,000 patrons to the grounds
for 2,000+ concerts and shows and
countless lectures, workshops and other unique events. In addition
to the action on the tent grounds, Big Top has also broadcast its
performances over the public radio airwaves since 1994
through Tent Show
Radio, bringing Big Top concerts into living
rooms across the country and around the world via internet
streaming and podcasts. Our resident band, the Blue
Canvas Orchestra, also tours to theaters and schools
throughout the Upper Midwest. Over the course of 30 years we’ve
touched millions of lives and created millions of memories with our
eclectic blend of excellent musical offerings.