Thursday , August 2 and
DEBUT Friday August 3 , 7:30 pm
Play Ball ! Warren Nelson ’ s Music Hall Baseball Show Tickets : $ 22 /$ 11 Children 3-17 * With an all-star cast , Warren Nelson swings away with a big new original show singing and storytelling the spirit of baseball from the backyard game to the Big Show , back dropped by film and photos . Directed by Jan Lee , Play Ball ! features Hall of Fame musicians Randy Sabien , Andy Dee , Jane Aleckson , Otis McLennon and Severin Behnen , the musical director . “ It ’ s my great pleasure to introduce Peter Provost and Daniel Oyinloye to the Big Top stage in this world debut of Play Ball !” August 2 Sponsored by Xcel Energy and Pat & Judy Sebranek August 3 Sponsored by Jim & Joy Perry and Pat & Judy Sebranek
Saturday , August 4 , 7:30 pm
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Opening Set by Tift Merritt Tickets : $ 80 /$ 70 /$ 55 Mary Chapin Carpenter , celebrated singer / songwriter rose to acclaim in the 1990s with her country / folk cross-over hits including “ Come On Come On ”, “ Passionate Kisses ”, “ I Feel Lucky ” and “ He Thinks He ’ ll Keep Her .” She has won numerous Grammy awards and is the only Female Vocalist to receive the top honors 4 years in a row in the Country Category . Recently , Carpenter was honored with The Americana Association ’ s esteemed “ Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music Award ”, which recognizes artists who have used their work to raise awareness and promote free speech . Sponsored by Reed Realty
Sunday , August 5 , 7:30 pm
Greg Brown
Opening Set by Peter Mulvey Tickets : $ 38 /$ 28 /$ 22 After nearly 20 albums ( including a Live from the Big Top album ) and more than three decades of performing , this cofounder of the influential indie roots label Red House Records and former musical director for Garrison Keillor ’ s A Prairie Home Companion radio program , Iowa singer-songwriter Greg Brown has amassed a rock-solid legion of fans . Like a jagged stone worked by ocean waves , Brown ’ s signature rough hewn-yet-velvet-smooth baritone is in fine form on his latest release Freak Flag . Sponsored by Bayfield Inn and Wisconsin Public Radio
Wednesday , August 8 , 7:30 pm
Ladies of the Canyon
Songs of Joni Mitchell , Carole King , Mama Cass and More Tickets : $ 22 /$ 11 Children 3-17 * Come and see what we dug up in the history of Laurel Canyon from the women ’ s perspective . This show features Cheryl Leah , Mary Lou Williams , Danielle Nepstad and Alissa Rhode plus our all-talented Blue Canvas Orchestra . See Page 6 for full description . Sponsored by Myra Ehnert
Thursday , August 9 , 7:30 pm
Blue Canvas Orchestra Live
Tickets : $ 22 /$ 11 Children 3-17 * We all know and love our Big Top house band the Blue Canvas Orchestra – BCO . While touring artists come and go , BCO embodies the unique style and energy of the music of the tent . Musical Director , Ed Willett leads the group - an orchestra made up of mainly bluegrass instrumentation – in a concert of originals written by members of the BCO . The group features Ed on cello , guitar and voice ; Bruce Bowers on fiddle ; Bruce Burnside on banjo , mandolin and vocals ; Andy Dee on guitar and dobro ; Tom Mitchell on drums and vocals ; Jane Aleckson on bass and vocals ; Cheryl Leah on vocals ; Jack Gunderson on vocals ; and Phillip Anich on vocals . The styles played range from Folk to Rock , Jazz to Blues , and Celtic to World-inspired music . Sponsored by Memorial Medical Center
Friday , August 10 , 7:30 pm
JJ Grey & Mofro
Tickets : $ 36 /$ 28 /$ 20 Alligator Records recording artist JJ Grey was nominated this year for the B . B . King International Blues Artist of the Year award . His songwriting is influenced by some of the great musical storytellers : Muddy Waters , John Lee Hooker , Otis Redding , Dr . John , Sly & The Family Stone , Van Morrison … and his performing conjures the sexually charged blues of Howlin ’ Wolf , the country soul of George Jones and the hard funk of James Brown , as well as local personalities like street preachers and old time radio DJs . From gritty funk to juke joint romps to contemplative country sound , JJ Grey and Mofro occupy a distinctive space in the music world . Sponsored by Derek and Kim Ogle
Saturday , August 11 , 7:30 pm
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Tickets : $ 55 /$ 42 /$ 32 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has gone from a hippie jug band to pioneers of country rock , and their influence is still being felt today . Their quintessential generation-bridging album is “ Will the Circle Be Unbroken ” – now in its third edition ! Last year the group released a “ Live from Big Top Chautauqua EP .” It ’ s always a great party when the Dirt Band plays the Big Top ! You ’ ll remember some of their hits like “ Mr . Bojangles ,” “ Fishing in the Dark ,” and “ Dance Little Jean .” Sponsored by Don Funk
Greunke ’ s First Street Inn
FINE FOOD
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner , Fish Boil , Pizza , Fine Wine , Whitefish , Livers ,
Fine Lodging
Appetizers , Soda Fountain , and Great Desserts
17 Rittenhouse Avenue , Downtown Bayfield • 715-779-5480 • www . greunkesinn . com Try Sgt . Pepperoni ’ s Pizza To Go , call 779-0153 for delivery .