Ten Years of Big Ears! We’re returning March 30 - April 2, 2023, & today we share some of the great artists joining us!
We have a pre-sale for donors today & for previous festival passholders tomorrow. Passes go on sale for everyone Wednesday at 9am ET.
We are thrilled to present our lineup for Big Ears 2019, the most adventurous and ambitious music festival in the United States — with even more to come. Details:
We’re still in awe of Laurie Anderson’s (
@OnlyAnExpert
) incredible performance at Big Ears 🤩. Here she is performing her experimental classic “O Superman,” at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium-Coliseum.
📹 Loch & Key Productions
We’re excited to announce the first round of artists slated to join us for Big Ears 2020. Visit our website to learn more about the lineup and stay tuned for on sale this Thursday at 12pm eastern. This is just the beginning! Lineup + ticket details →
Marshall Allen celebrated his 99th birthday with a sold out Sun Ra Arkestra tour, a band he joined in the 50's.
We were so fortunate for him and the
@SunRaUniverse
to join us at Big Ears this part year as part of his celebrations. (1/2)
Photo By:
@elijohnsonphoto
It has become clear that we must cancel Big Ears 2020, scheduled for the weekend of Thursday, March 26 thru Sunday, March 29. Read the full statement here:
Big Ears Festival is honored to receive an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for 2020! The NEA funds will help us continue to present interactive & engaging new programming while serving as a platform for young artists and innovative work in our community.
@YoYo_Ma
, in partnership with the Knoxville-based arts nonprofit Big Ears, has announced a unique, multi-faceted concert presentation, “
@OurCommonNature
: An Appalachian Celebration,” for Friday, May 26, 2023, at World’s Fair Park in Knoxville, TN.
DATES ARE SET! Big Ears 2020 will open on Thursday, March 26 and run through Sunday, March 29. We’re considering, collaborating and conspiring to once again create an unforgettable Big Ears experience.
THANK YOU to all of the patrons, artists, donors, sponsors, volunteers, staff — and the ENTIRE Knoxville community — for making our
#TenYearsOfBigEars
weekend one to remember. It would not have been possible without each and every one of you!
📷
@lochkeyvideo
#BigEarsKnox
Thanks to everyone who made this past Big Ears weekend such an amazing & unforgettable experience. To the artists, all of the attendees, our extended family of staff, and all of our partners, collaborators & co-conspirators—you are the best!
R&B futurist
@DawnRichard
draws inspiration & sustenance from her native New Orleans. Her recent album "Second Line" is an audacious & evocative love letter to her hometown.
.
Richard brings her
#SecondLine
project to Big Ears in March & we can't wait.
.
Knoxville’s own,
@AdeemTheArtist
was recently on NPR’s
@WorldCafe
! In between performing, Adeem spoke about the deeper message of the record, the inspiration of songwriters like John Prine, & the ability to ask big questions through country music.
What a night in Market Square! Thanks to dance caller Phil Jamison and Evie Andrus Music, and of course special guest...
@YoYo_Ma
.
Join us for even more dancing tonight in the
@ourcommonnature
Community Village at World's Fair Park starting at 5 pm!
Photo By:
@holly__rainey
At Big Ears harpist
@marylattimore
plays solo & world premieres ‘Electric Appalachia’, a long-in-the-waiting collaboration w/ guitarist
@williamtylertn
feat visuals from the moving pictures archives of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image & Sound.
Yes, it’s crazy out there but we’re making plans for the future. Our goal to offer TWO Big Ears weekends in 2021 — each with a unique line up & program of its own — combining as much of the programming scheduled for 2020 as possible w/ new programs that were in the works. 1/5
Poet / rapper
@SaulWilliams
has a lot to say. This is from three years ago, an NPR feature on the release of his recording, “MartyrLoserKing.” We’re thrilled to have Saul making his
#BigEarsKnox
debut at long last in March.
Jeff Parker may still be best known for his work with Chicago post-rockers Tortoise. In our opinion, Parker has yet to receive the acclaim his formidable chops and unique vision merit, but the upcoming new record w/ The New Breed is poised to change that.
Today, we’re delighted to unveil the detailed concert schedule for Big Ears 2019—four days and nights of music featuring more than 100 performances in churches, grand historic theaters, art museum auditoriums, and rock clubs. Start planning.
Mark your calendars:
@BigEarsFestival
returns March 21-24 to explore the most innovative in music, film, and art in the hills of Knoxville, TN. 2019 festival passes - at last year’s prices - will be available for purchase THIS FRIDAY at 10AM ET!
#BigEarsKnox
We simply cannot thank our
#BigEarsKnox
fans, volunteers, artists, and sponsors enough for making this weekend truly extraordinary. It wouldn't be possible without your support. See you in 2020...
Photo:
@corawagoner
We’re honored to host Alvin Lucier and Joan La Barbara—two composers whose work revolutionized music—at Big Ears 2019, both performing solo, and with the help of the Ever Present Orchestra, featuring Stephen O’Malley and Oren Ambarchi.
Learn more →
Art Ensemble of Chicago, Spiritualized, Punch Brothers, Jack DeJohnette, Béla Fleck, Uncle Earl, Harold Budd, serpentwithfeet, Bill Frisell, Avey Tare, Sons of Kemet, Rhiannon Giddens, so many more: The entire Big Ears 2019 lineup is now available.
First artists announced! This is the first in a series of artist announcements throughout the summer and fall, with the next coming in just a couple of weeks…. Here we go!
2019 Tickets:
Big Ears is delighted to announce that André 3000 will bring his ‘New Blue Sun Live’ project for a residency at the Big Ears Festival, March 21 – 24. (1/2)
Big Ears Festival is honored to receive an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (
@NEAarts
) for 2019! Cheers to an adventurous year ahead.
#BigEarsKnox
#NEASpring18
Worth the wait...
@marylattimore
&
@williamtylertn
featuring visuals from Tennessee Archive of Moving Image & Sound in the world premiere of "Electric Appalachia".
Today was to have been the first day of the 2020 Big Ears Festival. We’re going to miss seeing you in person this weekend. In the midst of these strange and sad and challenging circumstances in which we find ourselves – and as we plan for the festival’s future incarnations (⅓)
For over a quarter of a century, The Pilot Light has served as a musical outpost for adventurous touring musicians, achieving a legendary status that belies its intimacy & DIY ethos. It has also been home to some of Big Ears’ most unforgettable performances. (1/2)
📸
@swolfgram
Your 2018 detailed concert schedule has arrived, complete with the rundown of daily lineups for a kaleidoscopic four-day weekend at
#BigEarsKnox
. Explore the schedule and secure weekend and daily passes now: .
We're honored to present a very special program at
#BigEarsKnox
: Jason Moran joining forces with legendary drummer Milford Graves in their first ever duo collaboration. The experience of seeing these two masters come together will surely be a historic, unforgettable experience.
How does Mary Halvorson remain one of the most innovative, in-demand, and busiest guitarists in jazz? Practice and sleep! Find out more in this interview with
@thecreativeindp
, and see Mary’s project Code Girl at Big Ears 2019.
We are sadder than sad to learn of the death of the great Ron Miles. He was a consummate musician, wonderful composer and bandleader, and a very warm, gentle soul. May he truly RIP. Godspeed.
Today we reveal our daily lineups for
#BigEarsKnox
2020 – an overview of the artists and programs scheduled for each day of the festival. We anticipate a handful of new artists additions and special programs, so be on the lookout in the months to come.
Stephen O'Malley
@IdeologicOrgan
is best known as a guitarist for drone-metal band Sunn O))), but his musical practice spans composing, collaborations with a host of contemporary artists and a span of other groups, such as electronic duo KTL and dirge-metal legend Khanate. (1/2)
Some have requested that we make the playlists that we shared on Spotify during the festival weekend available through Apple Music, so here they are. We’ll share the lot of them – 9 lists from the weekend – in this thread:
"Big Ears has never spelled out its aesthetic guidelines, and by now it doesn’t have to. It draws an audience that’s curious and ready to listen intently.” Thanks to the
@nytimes
for sharing their top moments of
#BigEarsKnox
Big Ears officially opens today!
The Festival Headquarters at Jackson Terminal opens at noon. Check in & grab your wrist band and program so you can be ready for all the music!
Photo By:
@JodyCollins
#TenYearsofBigEars
#BigEarsKnox
The time has come to lock in your daily passes and join us at
#BigEarsKnox
2018 this March 22-25! General Admission and Premier passes with "jump to the front" access are available here:
"Music is the healing force of the universe!"
#AlbertAyler
@BigEarsFestival
will return in 2021 w/ a bold, expansive program.
In the meantime, take care of yourselves & those around you; to borrow words from
#JohnBerger
, "Hold everything dear."
Wow. Just wow. This
@NPR
Tiny Desk Concert by Allison Russell
@outsidechild13
and her ‘circle of godesses’ this past September is pure inspiration.
She will open Big Ears 2023 at the
@bijoutheatre
on Thursday, March 30. We cannot wait!
We can't thank our
#BigEarsKnox
fans, volunteers, artists, and partners enough for making the 2018 festival truly unforgettable. These four exceptional days wouldn't be possible without your support. See you in 2019...
Video by Loch & Key Productions
Remembering some of the unannounced surprises at Big Ears this year, like
@petrahaden
and
@BillFrisell
's duo show at the
@OldCityPAC
. Like a dream. Pinch me.
photo: Jess Maples
RIP, Carla Bley. We were honored to have Carla Bley perform at Big Ears in 2017 & 2019 with both her trio featuring Steve Swallow and Andy Sheppard as well as alongside the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra. 📷: Andrew Gresham
At Big Ears,
@marcribotmusic
will join
@JoeHenryMusic
as part of his 115th Dream, go toe-to-toe w/ drummer
#AndrewCyrille
& play the works of his teacher & mentor, guitar legend
#FrantzCasseus
. Then, there’s going to be….oops, that’s a secret. But yes, there will be surprises!
Did you catch a secret show at Big Ears?
Shahzad Ismaily made a special appearance in during a couple secret shows this year! This capture from Billie Wheeler was from his performance as a part of
@Arooj_Aftab
’s secret show with
@MaeveGilchrist
at The Point.
#TenYearsofBigEars
Anthony Braxton weighs in on his new collaboration with Wilco’s Nels Cline and Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier; his love of Captain Beefheart; and the inspiration of James Brown, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Merle Haggard.
We are sadder than sad to hear the news of Mimi's passing. We will always remember
@lowtheband
's incredible performances at Big Ears in 2022 & 2014.
RIP Mimi Parker.🖤
Photos from 2022 by: Billie Wheeler, Tori Marion & Eli Johnson
#MimiParker
Milford Graves is nothing less than an original architect of free jazz, a pioneer of improvisation whose 50-year catalogue and career speak of what’s possible with music when its accepted limits of form -- but not its function -- disappear.
Photo by Loch & Key Productions
The Guardian is wowed by Anthony Braxton’s multi-day residency in London this past January, breathing “endless life” into the jazz tradition. At least 3 facets of Braxton’s remarkable artistry will be presented
#BigEarsKnox
weekend.
@MivosQuartet
recently recorded and released
@SteveReich
’s complete string quartets, which they will perform next Thursday at Big Ears!
Steve Seel caught up with the composer about the history of the string quartet and his contributions to the repertoire.