Tent Show Troubadours were formed in 2016 by Bob Hoot (guitar/vocals) and Doug McLeod (bass) as the foundation of the band. The rest of the lineup consists of Geri Hamilton (violin/vocals) who joined in summer 2019, followed by John Hamilton (guitar) in late September of that year. Tom Ellis (drums) joined the band in late summer of 2021. TST is occasionally joined by guest artist Wendy Lynn Markus (violin/vocals).

Tent Show Troubadours plays Alternative Rock and Alternative Country — original songs and some of our favorite covers. Bob Hoot writes songs with smart lyrics in styles infused with Northern Country, Rock-a-billy, New Wave, Roots, and Gypsy Jazz — rockers to ballads. The music is rich in harmonies. TST performs original music from our catalogue of more than 100 songs, and covers from such artists as Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Darius Rucker, Little Feat, The Band, Todd Rundgren, Tom Petty and John Mellencamp.

TST has eight albums and an EP of original songs. Original Music in a Variety of Flavors, Tangled Ways, Revival (EP), Murder of Crows, Autumn's Empire, Alchemy & Chemistry, Lost & Found and after six albums of originals, the overlapping bands of Tent Show Troubadours / HOOT and Hollers recorded 10 cover songs on the aptly named album Cover Letters. In December 2021, TST released six videos and a streaming EP titled Tent Show Troubadours — LIVE at Clutch Studios.

Our latest album of originals is titled Heroes & Horse Thieves. Here is the title cut and more:

TST has recorded and performed with a variety of players including, Ben Lokuta (drums), Tim Walsh (guitar), Harvey Briggs (guitar, vocals), Jenniper Hylbert (vocals), Tom Ellis (drums), Lindsay Everly (keyboard, vocals), Eli Gray (drums), and Chris DiBernardo (drums). Guest artists who have contributed tracks to our albums, include Gabe Burdulis (lead guitar), Shawndell Marks (keyboard), Wendy Lynn Markus (violin/vocals), Chris Wagoner (violin, lap steel, accordion), and Bruce Wasserstrom (lead guitar).

Go to Bandcamp to purchase downloads and/or listen to complete song previews.

TST has been a finalist in the MAMA Awards every year since 2018. In 2021, TST was the MAMA Award Winner for Alternative Performer of the Year. In 2022, TST was a finalist in eight (8) categories.

Tent Show Troubadours were born out of The New Baldones (2007-2015) which was formed by Bob Hoot (guitar, vocals) and Doug McLeod (bass). Tent Show Troubadours still performs songs from the three Baldones albums. Check out The New Baldones legacy on this site. All their songs and their three albums are still available.

Check out Gigs and Goodies for upcoming shows and past gigs.

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MAMA Awards

Thanks to everyone who voted for us. Tent Show Troubadours has been a finallist every year since entering in 2018. In 2021, TST was a finalist is six (6) categories and was winner of 2021 Alternative Performer of the Year. In 2022, TST was a finalist in eight (8) categories.

Thanks to my bandmates who make up TST — Doug McLeod, Geri Hamilton, John Hamilton, and Tom Ellis, as well as Ben Lokuta, Wendy Lynn Markus, and Jenniper Hylbert who played numerous gigs and recorded as Troubadours. And thanks to themamas.org, for putting instruments in the hands of young musicians, and MAMA Cares for their musicians relief fund.

Sept. 15, 2022 — Tent Show Troubadours released a 10-song album titled HEROES & HORSE THIEVES. The album features Bob Hoot (guitar/vocals), Geri Hamilton (violin/vocals), John Hamilton (guitar/vocals), Doug McLeod (bass), Tom Ellis (drums), and Wendy Lynn Markus (violin/vocals). Gabe Burdulis (guitar) and Shawndell Markes each played on select track of the album.

Tent Show Troubadours LIVE at Clutch Studios

Dec. 14, 2021 — All six videos in the series Tent Show Troubadours — Live at Clutch Studio. have been released on YouTube. Watch, listen, and enjoy.

Oct. 15, 2021 — Bob Hoot (guitar/vocals), Geri Hamilton (violin/vocals), John Hamilton (guitar/vocals), Doug McLeod (bass), Tom Ellis (drums), and Wendy Lynn Markus (violin/vocals) recorded LIVE at Clutch Studios on Aug. 13, 2021 in front of an audience of a few fans, friends and family. The performance included six (6) of our original songs. These were recorded live with no overdubs. Mixing by Landon Arkens at Blast House Studios. Audio/video recording and video editing by Clutch Sound & Pictures.

The first official public release on YouTube is The Last Bookstore which is the October release. We will release one video each month through March. Stay tuned!

Tom Ellis Joins TST/H&H

August 2021 — Tent Show Troubadours welcome Tom Ellis (drums) as the most recent addition to the band. Tom played on the TST albums Murder of Crows (2017) and Autumn's Empire (2019). Tom comes to TST as an experienced player, includng Little Vito & the Torpedoes in the '90s, eight years with the Moon Gypsies, 11 years with Chameleon, gigs in Florida with Bedlams and Hatley Brothers. Tom also claims to make a great chili.

In more news, Wendy Lynn Markus (violin/vocals) of Sunspot has shared the the stage and recorded with Tent Show Troubadours Orchestra, and performed with our second band — HOOT and Hollers.

April 1, 2021 — Tent Show Troubadours / HOOT and Hollers — Cover Letters is a 10-song album of favorite covers with the core lineup of Bob Hoot (guitar, vocals), Doug McLeod (bass), Geri Hamilton (violin/vocals), John Hamilton (guitar,vocals), and Ben Lokuta (drums). This pandemic project was pieced together with tracks recorded at the home studios of Bob, Doug, and Ben. All protocols were followed then, and later when vocals were recorded at Blast House Studios with Landon Arkens. The album released on Soundcloud and Bandcamp on April 1, 2021, and on Spotify, Apple Music and all other streaming services shortly thereafter.

December 29, 2020 — Tent Show Troubadours — Lost & Found is a 13-song album with the core lineup of Bob Hoot (guitar, vocals), Doug McLeod (bass), Geri Hamilton (violin/vocals), John Hamilton (guitar,vocals, and Ben Lokuta (drums). Joining TST is former TST bandmate Jenniper Hylbert (vocals). Gabe Burdulis (lead guitar-slinger) plays on three tracks, Wendy Lynn Markus (violin/vocals) plays on three tracks, and Chance Stine (clarinet) is featured on two tracks. The album released on Soundcloud and Bandcamp on Dec. 29, 2020, and on Spotify, Apple Music and all other streaming services shortly thereafter.

December 2019 — Tent Show Troubadours is please and honored to be named as one of the Kitty's Top 10 Local CDs by Kitty Dunn of 105.5 Triple M for our 2019 release titled Alchemy & Chemistry.

June 1, 2019 — Tent Show Troubadours — Alchemy & Chemistry is a 12-song album with the core lineup of Bob Hoot (guitar, vocals), Doug McLeod (bass), Timothy Walsh (guitar,vocals) Ben Lokuta (drums) and Jenniper Hylbert (vocals). Joining TST on six tracks is Gabe Burdulis (lead guitar-slinger) and on six tracks is multi-instrumentalist Chris Wagoner (violin, lap steel, accordion), and four tracks is Shawndell Marks (keyboards). In addition, Molly Lins contributes backing vocals on every song. The album released June 1, 2019.

May 2018 — Tent Show Troubadours — Autumn's Empire is a 12-song album with the core lineup of Bob Hoot (guitar, vocals), Doug McLeod (bass), Tom Ellis (drums) and Jenniper Hylbert (vocals). Joining TST on six tracks is Gabe Burdulis (lead guitar-slinger) and on seven of the tracks is multi-instrumentalist Chris Wagoner (violin, lap steel, accordion). In addition, Molly Lins (vocals) contributes her angelic harmonies on every song.

July 2017 — Tent Show Troubadours — Murder of Crows is a 12-song album of originals with Bob and Doug joined by Jenniper Hylbert (vocals), Tom Ellis (drums) and Lindsay Everly (keyboard/vocals) all of whom performed on every cut of this album. Also contributing on selected cuts were Bruce Wasserstrom (guitar) and Eli Gray (percussion).

Tent Show Troubadours — Revival is an EP of five original songs originally recorded by The New Baldones. New vocal tracks featuring duets and backup vocals of Jenniper Hylbert as well as fresh vocals and new guitar tracks by Bob Hoot. Chris Di Bernardo pitched in with conga work and hand percussion instruments. Again, thanks to Landon Arkens at Blast House Studios in Madison, Wis. for remixing and remastering this project.

Tent Show Troubadours — Tangled Ways is an album with 12 original songs, the forst 12 originals under the TST moniker. Listen on the player below.

The player below also offers a compilation of 14 songs from the three albums of The New Baldones that have been remixed, remastered and released as Tent Show Troubadours — Original Music in a Variety of Flavors.

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