Tent Show Radio

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is often cited as a catalyst for an entire movement in Country Rock and American Roots Music. With multi-platinum and gold records, strings of hits such as "Fishin' In The Dark" and "Mr. Bojangles", and multiple Grammy, IBMA, and CMA Awards, the accolades continue to accumulate. Now in their 52nd year, they continue their non-stop touring.

Ever since his first record, 2006's self-released Marmalade, LaFarge has been a difficult specimen to pin down, indeed. Timelessness, and refined good taste, is LaFarge's raison d'être, and his influences are as multi-hued and wide-ranging as the rhythms that buoy his starkly poetic songs — rhythms that are steeped in the very essence of jazz.

The world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra is the most sought after big band in the world today. Their classics include In the Mood, Chattanooga Choo Choo, A String of Pearls, Moonlight Serenade, and Tuxedo Junction. After Miller’s death in 1944, the band was reformed in 1956 and has played an average of 300 shows a year ever since.

Marking the 20th anniversary of their coming together, Yonder Mountain String Band's nature and instincts remain progressive. Melding sophisticated songcraft, irrepressible spirit, and remarkable instrumental ability, their latest efforts are a testament to their organic, dynamic, and intensely personal brand of contemporary bluegrass-fueled Americana. Nearly two decades in, their inventiveness, versatility, and sheer imagination shows no sign of winding down.

The Blue Canvas Orchestra takes you on a historical adventure of jigs and ballads, journeying through the transformation of traditional Celtic tunes into bluegrass and other genres. Before the United States was formed, its people were merging and transforming the ethnic sounds of their roots. Travel with us to the Appalachian Mountains by way of a quarter million Scots Irish!

Led by the songwriting and vocals of Jay Farrar, Son Volt was one of the most instrumental and influential bands in launching the alt.country movement, precursor to what is now widely referred to as Americana. Farrar possesses one of the most distinctive voices in roots, rock, country or any genre.

In 2018 as part of Big Top's Free Family Series, Terrance Simien presented the wonderful show Creole for Kidz. If you were lucky enough to attend, it was fascinating and entertaining no matter what your age.

Musician, filmmaker, and humanitarian Michael Franti is recognized as a pioneering force using music as a vehicle for positive change. His unforgettable, high energy shows with his band, Spearhead, draw on the music of hip hop, reggae, funk and rap. He and his band Spearhead guarantee a show that will be thought provoking as well as energetic. We were excited to welcome Franti for his 3rd visit in his 2017 appearance at Big Top.

Episode 19-7: Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Episode 19-06: Sweet Water Warblers

Episode 19-5: Dead Horses

Episode 19-4: Roy Clark

A master songwriter, John Hiatt's songs have been recorded by Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, and many more. He received a star on Nashville’s Walk of Fame, the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The 2018 show heard on this episode marked the 30th Anniversary of his album, "Slow Turning". The band performed “Slow Turning” in full followed by a final set of all his hits.

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. They've released half a dozen CDs and populated Youtube with a number of popular videos. 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".

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.