Tent Show Radio

Acclaimed country singer-songwriter Steve Earle was a protégé of legends Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. His 1986 debut album Guitar Town shot to number one on the country charts. His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others. Steve's latest release GUY is his 19th studio album.

After seven years, three albums, innumerable shows, and countless beers, bluegrass mavericks Horseshoes & Hand Grenades appropriately consider themselves a “family” on a wild, wonderful, and often whacky roller coaster. The bond between the quintet-David C. Lynch, Collin Mettelka, Russell Pedersen, Adam Greuel, and Samual Odin —fuels their creativity and chemistry on stage and in the studio.

Big Top Chautauqua's Blue Canvas Orchestra draws on the bountiful collection of sea shanties, sailing songs, and rowdy sailors-in-port songs that have come down through time. Hear the tales of those who roamed the seas aboard vessels of wood with canvas sails – and those who never returned – in song, story, and big screen pictures.

Through relentless touring and terrific word-of-mouth support, Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela have established themselves as an in-demand live act. They sold out many major theaters in the US, France, Australia, Japan, and Europe. Rod and Gab have also contributed to the musical soundtracks of 'Puss In Boots' (2011) and 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (with Hans Zimmer). Their career album sales are well in excess of 1.5 million worldwide.

Judy Collins has inspired audiences with her sublime vocals and boldly vulnerable songwriting for over 50 years. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 50-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline.

Blues icon Keb' Mo' owes his longevity as a singer and writer to a combination of masterful, anecdotal writing skills, distinctive guitar versatility, and resonant, blues-soaked vocals. Every song tells a story, and every story reminds us why Keb' Mo' is one of the most versatile and engaging musical figures on today's roots rock and blues scene.

This week's episode is a dedication to the legendary John Prine. Prine was an American country folk singer-songwriter. He was active as a composer, recording artist, and live performer from the early 1970s until his death and was known for an often humorous style of original music that has elements of protest and social commentary.

Maxi Priest was the first reggae artist to have a No. 1 hit worldwide, including the U.S. Billboard charts. With over 15 million albums sold, he is the most successful solo act in British reggae history, respected by fellow artists from all over the world.

TSR 17-24 John Prine

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.

John McEuen has been a "professional performer" since 1962, working as a magician in Disneyland’s Magic Shop as a teenager. Music soon came along, which led to his long and varied career first solo, then as a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1966. Over 10,000 concerts and 300 television shows throughout more than 3 million miles - with the band and as a solo performer – John has pursued his passion for performing and recording.

When it comes to making music with both extraordinary passion and exceptional chops, few acts today can surpass the sheer excellence of The War And Treaty.

The multi-national, Celtic juggernaut Gaelic Storm grows stronger with each live performance, and as you can imagine, after two decades and over 2000 shows, it is a true force to be reckoned with. With their latest release, Go Climb a Tree, their music has never sounded more representative of themselves as musicians and as live performers.

Since releasing his five-times-platinum debut single "Home" in spring 2012, Phillip Phillips has released two chart-topping albums and taken his expansive brand of earthy, guitar-fueled rock across the globe. With soulful vocals and ruggedly warm sensibilities, the Georgia-bred 26-year-old saw his first full-length effort go platinum after debuting at #4 on the Billboard Top 200.

The Marshall Tucker Band came together as a young, hungry, and driven six-piece outfit in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1972, and they've been tearing it up on stages across the globe ever since. The band's music catalog, consisting of more than 20 studio albums and a score of live releases, has racked up multi-platinum album sales many times over.