Tent Show Radio

With overwhelming support of his home town of Barron, Wisconsin, Kroeze raised money to head to Nashville in 2014 and recorded his first single “Four Letter Words”. That first single went on to receive heavy radio play throughout the Midwest and open numerous doors. NBC’s Emmy Award Winning television show, The Voice, catapulted Kroeze onto the National Stage. Kroeze’s vocal and guitar skills, along with his small town country boy nature, have captured the hearts of millions of fans.

Episode 20-7: Greg Brown Part 2

Folk singer-songwriter Greg Brown was born into a musical family, and spent several years traveling with a band before returning to Iowa, where he performed live and pursued his songwriting career. He has recorded more than a dozen albums and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. This is part 1 of Greg Brown's 2019 performance - tune in to next week's Tent Show Radio to hear part 2.

Stories as diverse as the tapestry of cultures that make up America, told with music, dialogue and beautiful historic imagery. Take adventures with 17th century French Voyageurs and 18th century Wisconsin farmers, get a humorous look at Western expansion and manifest destiny, hear the sobering story of Little Crow, the Chief of the Mdewakanton Dakota people, and more.

The Jayhawks and their rootsy country rock sound were swimming against the tide when they emerged from a crowded Minnesota music scene in 1985. Over two decades, 9 albums, and countless memorable live shows, this beloved band soared to heights few ever achieve while winning the hearts and minds of numerous critics, fans and peers in the process.

At the age of 14, Jontavious Willis came across a YouTube video of Muddy Waters playing “Hoochie Coochie Man” and was instantly hooked on the blues. He got his much-needed break in 2015 from the living legend Taj Mahal, who described him as the “Wonderboy” and “the Wunderkind.” Mahal asked Willis to play on stage with him. That appearance resulted in a roaring response from the audience and led Willis to bigger stages and broader opportunities’.

In 1969, 400,000 people gathered on a dairy farm Northwest of New York City for the three-day festival known as Woodstock. That was fifty years ago, and now in this new Big Top show the Blue Canvas Orchestra pays tribute to the festival, to the artists, and to the spirit of the sixties that was epitomized by the legendary event.

On this episode of Tent Show Radio, Big Top Chautauqua makes way for two women of power…the big note brassy blues of Joyanne Parker, and the retro-current all-her-own-sounds of Nicole Atkins.

Celebrate the best country and western music from the 30s through the 80s in this third installment of the popular Big Top Opry series led by Severin Behnen and Corey Carlson. The Blue Canvas Orchestra and special guests bring together the music of Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and many more stars of the Grand Ole Opry. This show mashes up our favorites from Big Top Opry, and Big Top Opry 2: The Outlaw Years.

The tent may be all tucked away in hibernation for winter, but the Blue Canvas Orchestra is brimming with the magic of Christmas. Hearken back on old memories with songs the Blue Canvas Orchestra has been performing for years, and hear some new songs too. There’ll be holiday classics, instrumentals, and maybe even an audience sing-a-long.

Ray Benson founded western swing band Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia 48 years ago. “We were too country for the rock folks and we were too long-haired for the country folks. But everybody got over it once the music started playing." Today the band holds 10 Grammy awards, 20 studio albums and 20 singles on the Billboard charts.

Shakey Graves's 2018 show at Big Top was so good, we're bringing you the whole thing! This week's Tent Show Radio is the second half of his performance. Shakey Graves has been categorized as an Americana singer/songwriter, thanks to his traditionally rooted songs, fluent acoustic-guitar picking, and Texas roots. He was named Best Emerging Artist at the 2015 Americana Music Awards.

Shakey Graves has been categorized as an Americana singer/songwriter, thanks to his traditionally rooted songs, fluent acoustic-guitar picking, and Texas roots. He was named Best Emerging Artist at the 2015 Americana Music Awards. But that tag will undoubtedly be dismissed as restrictive and irrelevant when his radical new album “Can’t Wake Up” is released and performed for live show audiences.

On this episode of Tent Show Radio, listen to The New Power Generation's fantastic show played live at the Big Top in 2017. Their show Celebrating Prince with The New Power Generation is an epic tribute to the superstar artist with musical performances by a stellar ensemble of alumni from Prince's legendary backing band along with other world class musicians, singers and artists.

One of the most popular singers in modern country music, Vince Gill is famous for his top-notch songwriting, world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring tenor, all wrapped up in a quick and easy wit. Gill achieved his big breakthrough in 1990 with "When I Call Your Name." He has won 18 CMA Awards, including Song of the Year four times – making him the most awarded artist in that category in CMA history. Since 1990, Gill has won 21 GRAMMY Awards.