Big Top Chautauqua

An intimate acoustic evening with Trey Anastasio and Jeff Tanski comes to Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, WI on June 14, 2026.

Chase and Ovation is the World’s “Paramount Prince Tribute Show” based out of Prince’s beloved hometown of Minneapolis, MN. Chase has been traveling North America performing exclusively the music of Prince (live in concert) for the past 16 years including their monthly residency at the world-famous Bunkers Music Bar in Minneapolis, made famous by Prince […]

Galvanized in the late 70's by The Clash and an aversion to the austere policies of Margaret Thatcher, Billy Bragg set out to inspire political engagement and empathy, and he hasn’t deviated from that path. He has performed numerous benefit shows over the years - for the miners, the Labour party, CND, the jobless, the […]

A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musicianfuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers. Whether touring as a 'Duo' or with his […]

The Jayhawks and their rootsy sound were definitely swimming against the tide when they emerged from a crowded Minnesota music scene in 1985. Over the course of almost 4 decades, 11 albums, countless memorable live shows and enough personal drama to fill a couple of Behind the Music episodes, this beloved band soared to heights […]

Awarded "Worldwide Best Tribute Band" Killer Queen blew the roof off The Tent in 2023 and they want to do it again for our fortieth season! We can't wait to have them back. Killer Queen is a British Queen tribute band founded in 1993 by Patrick Myers while at London University—the same venue where Queen […]

Judy Collins has long inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in […]

The Chequamegon Bay Jazz Collective is a Big Band that is in its fifth year of functioning. The group was founded in 2021 by music director Brett Hulmer in collaboration with his music educator extraodinaire mother, Christine Hulmer. The idea was that we certainly could fill a full functioning big band with entirely area musicians. […]

Lake Effect Music Fest is a two-day celebration of music and outdoor adventure set for August 14-16, 2025, at Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Nestled at the base of Mt. Ashwabay, this inaugural festival will be an unforgettable experience with a lineup of 13 bands performing across two stages, featuring genres from punk rock […]

In late September of 2023, Devon Allman achieved a world-record for performing 50 concerts in the 50 states of America in 49 days. He was just getting warmed up. The modern rock troubadour and torchbearer for the legacy of the blues has led bands such as Honeytribe, Royal Southern Brotherhood, and The Allman Betts Band […]

The Wallflowers will mark the 30th anniversary of their landmark album Bringing Down the Horse with a nationwide U.S. tour kicking off April 17, 2026. The band will perform their classic album in its entirety, in sequence. The tour will also include a performance at Stagecoach, the world’s largest country music festival. Originally released on […]