Meg Hutchinson , 3:00 pm , Writing By Heart : Methods for Uncovering Your Voice Often our writing knows more about us and the world than we do , if we can just figure out how to make a place for that honest voice in our work . Through exercises and discussion we will explore ways of working that encourage the best in ourselves . How do we make the right and left brain get along ? What exercises help us get through writers block ? How are poems different from songs and what can they offer each other ? How do the lyrics and melody evolve ? How do we know when we are being honest in our work ? This workshop is open to all levels of experience . Please bring writing materials .
Radoslav Lorkovic , 4:30 pm , Round Robin Song Sharing In this session we will share and critique our “ works in progress ” in a supportive and constructive environment . Bring works to share if you have them . Bring lyrics you can ’ t find a melody for , or a phrase you can ’ t quite rhyme . If you don ’ t have works in progress , come and listen in – there ’ s something here for you regardless of where you are in your songwriting journey .
Saturday , Aug . 25
Stephanie & Roy Elkins , 10:30 am , Get Yourself Heard Join the host of Wisconsin Public Radio ’ s Sunday Night program “ Simply Folk .” Stephanie has been a musical host on WPR since 2007 and was the host of Musica Antiqua for 10 years . Her husband Roy is founder and CEO of Broadjam Inc ., a Madisonbased company that serves the music industry and independent musicians around the world . Broadjam places music in film , TV , ads ; allows musicians to upload and sell their music , get peer reviews , host websites , etc . They will share their experience on promoting yourself and getting your music
heard over the airwaves . These workshops are supported in part by a grant from Chequamegon Bay Arts Council
Workshops subject to change .
Sunday , August 26 , 2 pm
The Blue Buccaneers
Free Family Matinee . See page 13 for full description .
Sunday , August 26 , Time tba
African Drum and Dance with Kellie Pederson and Scott Griffiths Free Workshops See Page 13 for complete description .
Friday , August 31 , 7:30 pm
Cloud Cult , David Mayfield Parade and That 1 Guy
Special appearance by The Spin Collective All Seats Reserved and General Admission Grounds Passes : $ 38 Cloud Cult , from Minneapolis , is so environmentally conscious that it once asked fans for CD jewel cases to be cleaned and reused . But in its music the band is less “ Al Gore ” than “ William Blake ,” singing kaleidoscopic invocations of the life force in a bright indie psychedelia . While the band plays , two visual artists create original paintings to the beat . David Mayfield ’ s music channels the unique forms of American music with sincerity and celebration from the howl of early rock-n-roll , to the low lonesome twang of folk and country with a voice that is all at once heartbreaking and inherently hopeful . That 1 Guy is a one-man-band on crazy hand-made instruments including the 7 foot magic pipe made of PVC plumbing parts . Sponsored by Deepwater Grille
We expect this to be a standing and dancing audience , choose your seating accordingly
Saturday , September 1 , 10:30 am
That One Guy
Free Family Matinee . See page 13 for full description .
Saturday , September 1 , 7:30 pm
Big Top by Request
Tickets : $ 22 /$ 11 Children age 3-17 * Join the Blue Canvas Orchestra as they perform the music you ’ ve identified as the best of the best . See page 5 for complete description . Sponsored by Corneille Law Firm
Sunday , September 2 , 7:30 pm
Blue Canvas Orchestrated with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra Tickets : $ 54 /$ 44 /$ 34 ; Kids Half Price $ 27 /$ 22 /$ 17 The DSSO joins the Big Top Chautauqua ’ s Blue Canvas Orchestra for the second annual evening of classics under canvas by these two celebrated groups . Ed Willett will once again be our Concertmaster as our house band is joined by over 30 members of the DSSO . The collaboration debuted last September on our stage to thunderous applause and several standing ovations . The musical match , with the big screen visuals , was such a hit that we expect to partner on performances for a long time to come . Sponsored by 15 Fabulous Couples
Thursday , September 6 , 7:30 pm
The Mountains Call My Name
A Musical Portrait of Environmentalist John Muir Featuring Tom Mitchell and the Blue Canvas Orchestra Tickets : $ 22 Adult /$ 11 Children 3-17 * Join the Blue Canvas Orchestra for their musical portrayal of John Muir , founder of the national park system and the Sierra Club . See page 7 for complete description . Sponsored by Terry & Heidi Anderson
Friday , September 7 , 7:30 pm
Riders In The Sky
$ 42 /$ 36 /$ 28 ; Kids Half Price $ 21 /$ 18 /$ 14 For more than thirty years Riders In The Sky have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers , Gene Autry and Roy Rogers , reviving and revitalizing the genre . And while remaining true to the integrity of Western music , they have themselves become modern-day icons by branding the genre with their own legendary wacky humor and way-out Western wit , and all along encouraging buckaroos and buckarettes to live life “ The Cowboy Way !” Sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio
Saturday , September 8 , 7:30 pm
Old Last Night with Blue Canvas Orchestra , Michael Perry and the Long Beds and Elephant Revival Tickets : $ 32 /$ 28 /$ 22 Old Last Night is the grand finale of the summer season – it ’ s our variety show led by our own house band Blue Canvas Orchestra . On Old Last Night , you should plan on staying out just a little later than usual . After the concert , we light a big bon fire in the parking lot and the music usually continues until the wee hours . Wisconsin Native Michael Perry , ( humorist , author and host of Tent Show Radio ) has been hosting Old Last Night for the last few seasons . This year , he ’ s bringing along his own band The Long Beds with their homespun country folk tunes that feel like “ stories that could be fodder for a sunrise coffee klatch in a small-town diner .” Elephant Revival returns for their 3 rd visit to the Big Top stage . ER has become one of our favorite groups performing a specialized and inviting music they call transcendental folk , incorporating elements of Scottish / Celtic fiddle tunes , traditional ballads , bluegrass , psychedelic country , and indie rock . Come help us ring out the old Big Top year – you ’ ll be glad you did ! Sponsored by Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua ’ s Board of Directors
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