big ears 2024

Seen this year at the Big Ears Festival: Henry Threadgill’s Very Very Circus (repertory band); Mary Halvorson Amaryllis; Tyondai Braxton; Jlin; Unwound; Trevor Dunn’s Trio Convulsant Extra; Claire Rousay; Ikue Mori / Fred Frith; Kristin Hersh; Brad Mehldau; Tomeka Reid; Bitchin’ Bajas; Carl Craig; Min Xiao Fen; Colleen; Myra Melford Fire & Water; Colin Stetson; Beth Orton; JG Thirlwell & Ensemble; Bar Italia; Shabaka; Ches Smith’s Laugh Ash; Matt Mitchell; Void Patrol; KMRU; John Paul Jones / Thurston Moore (*not seen due to delays); André 3000

Big Ears Festival, 2019

Knoxville, TN

Rachel Grimes; Joan la Barbara; YoshimiO / Ibarra / Lowe; Mercury Rev; Lonnie Holley with Messthetics; Larry Grenadier; Harold Budd + Nief Norf; Evan Parker Trance Map; The Comet Is Coming; Absînt (Berne + Frisell); Spiritualized; Jlin; Fire!; Nate Wooley; Amirtha Kidambi and the Elder Ones; Kayhan Kalhor; This Is Not This Heat; Jon Mueller; Abstract Black; Bill Frisell (livescore to Bill Morrisson); Sons of Kemet; Alvin Lucier & Ever Present Orchestra; Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin; Arvo Pärt’s Passio performed by the St. John’s Episcopal Choir; Sun of Goldfinger; Art Ensemble of Chicago + guests

Joan al Barbara

Slow Waltz
Morton Feldman as performed by Joan la Barbara

Comet Is Coming

The Lifeforce, part II
The Comet Is Coming

Amirtha Kidambi and Elder Ones

Dance of the Subaltern
Amirtha Kidambi and Elder Ones

Alvin Lucier

Bird and Person Dyning (excerpt)
Alvin Lucier

Big Ears Festival, 2018

Knoxville TN
Roscoe Mitchell; Cyro Baptista's Vira Locos; Ikue Mori; Rocket Science; Milford Graves; Arto Lindsay; Jenny Sheinman's Mischief & Mayhem; Medeski Martin & Wood; The Thing; Gas; Kid Koala; Rushes Ensemble performing Michael Gordon; Evan Parker Electro-acoustic Ensemble; Yuka Honda; Sonus Ensemble; Laurel Halo featuring Eli Keszler; Kelly Lee Owens; Four Tet; Tyshawn Sorey; Suuns; Kieren Hebden & Mats Gustafsson; Bangs; Nief Norf performing Steve Reich

Roscoe Mitchell

Roscoe Mitchell at Big Ears
The Last Chord (excerpt)
Roscoe Mitchell

Arto Lindsay

Arto Lindsay at Big Ears
Seu Pai
Arto Lindsay

Kid Koala

Kid Koala at Big Ears
The Observable Universe
Kid Koala

Kelly Lee Owens

Kelly Lee Owens at Big Ears
Evolution
Kelly Lee Owens

Tyshawn Sorey

Tyshawn Sorey at Big Ears
Contemplating Tranquility (excerpt)
Tyshawn Sorey

Kieran Hebden / Mats Gustafsson

Hebden and Gustafsson at Big Ears
Lyman Place
Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid with Mats Gustafsson