Tent Show Radio

Roy Clark was an American singer and musician. He is best known for having hosted Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969 to 1997. Clark was an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and in helping to popularize the genre.

Episode 19-29: John Hiatt

The New Standards are three friends, musicians and raconteurs who have been performing together since 2005 in clubs and theaters everywhere, from Shanghai to New York City. In their original state, they take the form of an unusual trio (stand up bass, piano and vibraphone), but of-late have been the soul and creative core of a hydra-headed, funny, freewheeling, nutty yet very moving "Variety Show". This episode also features a performance by Yazmin Bowers.

Many people play roots music, but few modern musicians live those roots like Minnesota’s Charlie Parr. Parr’s heartfelt and plaintive original folk blues and traditional spirituals don’t strive for authenticity: They are authentic. It’s the music of a self-taught guitarist and banjo player who grew up without a TV but with his dad’s recordings of America’s musical founding fathers.

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.

This episode catches the Blue Canvas Orchestra on the road, playing a live show at the University of Wisconsin Superior. They feature some of their favorite original classic songs performed over the years at the tent.

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.

For this episode, we hear the music of Big Top's house band, the Blue Canvas Orchestra. They play selections from the show All Aboard: Songs of the Railroad.

For this episode, we hear the music of Tent Show Radio's host himself, Michael Perry, joined by his band The Long Beds.

Great musical duo The Lowest Pair, and a selection from the Blue Canvas Orchestra's show Wild Woods and Water.

Paul LaRoche is the founder and producer of the award-winning Native American music group Brulé. The group is best known for thrilling audiences with a mergence of cultural rock and theatrical instrumentations. Now in their 20th season, their national performances carry the same contagious excitement as Trans Siberian Orchestra, Celtic Thunder, and Riverdance—but with the emotional impact of the American Indian culture.