SneezingCow.com

Home of Michael Perry – Author, Humorist, Singer/Songwriter, Amateur Pig Farmer

Posts Tagged ‘Big Top Chautauqua’

Tent Show Radio Podcasts

 

If you’re new here because of Visiting Tom, I’m pleased to let you know that although typing is my main job, we have a few other things going on as well. For instance, this Saturday I’ll be joining my band beneath a beautiful blue tent overlooking the Apostle Islands.
I’ve also been privileged to host Tent Show Radio for the past two years, and I’m happy to say that you can now listen to Tent Show Radio pretty much whenever you wish. In addition to listening on your radio or streaming the show in real time you can go back in time and listen to that Ruthie Foster, or Nanci Griffith, or Greg Brown, or Arlo Guthrie or any other guest one more time (as of now, nearly all shows are archived for one year – some variance depending on contractual obligations). Just go here, scroll down to the show of your choice and click on the player.
And if you missed one of Mike’s ‘Backstage Monologues,’ why, you can just dial it up whenever you like…he did a number of them about his cannon-shooting neighbor Tom (the subject of Mike’s current book) but he also talks about being a Dad, remembering his Irish grandma, and whatever else comes to mind.
Of course you can also listen on the beautiful radio (or stream) in real time. List of stations and times right here.

How Cool Is That?

This weekend on Tent Show Radio it’s Rickie Lee Jones…and listening to her sing got me to thinking about what it means to to be cool. For those of us who aren’t particularly cool, there is hope. From the monologue:

I do think you can be temporarily cool. I’ve been cool a couple of times. It usually doesn’t last more then ten seconds, usually until I shut my seatbelt in the door, or realize I had my t-shirt on backwards. As a matter of fact, the second I start feeling cool, I check my fly.

My all-time record for being cool was six minutes. I was at this deal…

Tune in for the rest…

Tent Show Radio Archives Now Available

 

We’re happy to announce that you can now listen to Tent Show Radio pretty much whenever you wish. In addition to listening on your radio or streaming the show in real time you can go back in time and listen to that Ruthie Foster, or Nanci Griffith, or Greg Brown, or Arlo Guthrie or any other guest one more time (as of now, nearly all shows are archived for one year – some variance depending on contractual obligations). Just go here, and look for this:
And if you missed one of Mike’s ‘Backstage Monologues,’ why, you can just dial it up whenever you like…he did a number of them about his cannon-shooting neighbor Tom (the subject of Mike’s next book) but he also talks about being a Dad, remembering his Irish grandma, and whatever else comes to mind.
Of course you can also listen on the beautiful radio (or stream) in real time. List of stations and times right here.

A Stream Full of Tent Show Radio

Well, this is good news. I’ve just received word from Tom up there at the Big Top Chautauqua tent that Tent Show Radio can now be streamed pretty much any old time you like. Shows will be uploaded the first Friday after the original air date, and will be available online for one year (So far all shows are available…occasionally the artist may decline permission for streaming).

Several shows are online already and can be heard here. It continues to be my privilege to introduce that acts on air and to contribute a monologue over each intermission (included in the stream). Over the last several monologues I’ve been talking about my neighbor Tom and our attempt to weld up a brush hog.

Of course if you wanna listen in real time, you’re always welcome to dial in one of these stations.

 

One More Time Tonight

One more round of Keeper of the Light at Big Top tonight. Times and ticket info here. Such a poignant, powerful show, and a big Keeper thank you to all the BTC cast, orchestra, volunteers, and crew at every level. Every now and then I am allowed to merge with their life up there on Mt. Ashwabay for a few days, then go on my way. They’re at it all the time, whether hosting national acts or producing homegrown fare. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll consider including them on your trip.

Another Show Tonight

For information on tonight’s show time and tickets, please click here. For tomorrow, click here.

Last night’s premiere was a lively one, with an unexpected comedic moment when I opened the show by failing to light about four matches in a row whilst quoting Homer. Favorite part of the show for me? Sitting backstage mid-show, listening to a gung-ho crowd react to my fellow players. After watching how hard they worked all week to bring this together, it was nice to hear them rewarded by the folks in the seats.

Upshot of this show? I can now give you a nice little five-minute mini-history of the Fresnel lens.

Big Top Show Tonight, and Tomorrow, and…

Between stints working on the new book, I’ve been rehearsing with the cast and crew up on Mount Ashwabay. For the next three nights we’ll be performing Keeper of the Light, a tribute to the men and women who kept the lights burning in the sometimes treacherous waters of Lake Superior. It is a story of fierce storms, shipwrecks, and long haunted evenings for the families living out among the Apostle Islands – all taken from the old journals of the lighthouse keepers. This show was first produced at Big Top Chautauqua in 1989. Created by Betty Ferris and Warren Nelson, Nelson-Ferris Concert Company.

Keeper is historical, happy and humorous…but it also evokes the tragic fury of Lake Superior with an eery verisimilitude that will have you reaching for a life vest or offering a prayer for those who have perished trying to light or land upon her treacherous shores.

Times and ticket info here.

As always, it’s a privilege to be welcomed beneath the canvas by the BTC folks old and new. Thanks to all of you.