Knoxville, TN’s Big Ears Festival has confirmed its 2027 lineup. The 14th annual multi-day, multi-venue gathering will take place throughout downtown Knoxville from April 1-4.
As always, Big Ear’s offerings are multi-generational and eclectic. That includes classical virtuosos like violinist Jennifer Koh, pianist Ursula Oppens and cellist Maya Beiser; jazz legends Brad Mehldau, Bill Frisell, David Murray, Robert Glasper and Chucho Valdés; singer/songwriters Norah Jones, Jeff Tweedy, Natalie Merchant, Nathaniel Rateliff, Rosanne Cash, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings; electronic pioneers Oneohtrix Point Never, Mouse on Mars, Tyondai Braxton and Tristan Perich; indie artists Wednesday, Weyes Blood, Kevin Morby and U.S. Girls; international acts Gustavo Santaolalla, Yasuaki Shimizu and Midori Takadal; newer voices like Yilian Canizares, Fabiano do Nascimento, Tim Bernardes, and El Khat; and “sonic explorers” like Kali Malone, Pamela Z, and Valentina Magaletti. In addition to over 250 concerts and performances, the weekend will offer a range of films, artist conversations, workshops, exhibitions and interactive experiences.
Throughout the festival, The Bang On A Can All-Stars will present six concerts, including Philip Glass’ Glassworks, Steve Reich’s masterpiece Music for 18 Musicians, and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s 1996 while The Big Star Quintet—featuring Jon Auer, Mike Mills, Pat Sansone, Chris Stamey and founding drummer Jody Stephens—will honor the Memphis-bred power-pop legends. Meanwhile, Trio of Bloom, the trio of guitarist Nels Cline, keyboardist Craig Taborn and drummer Marcus Gilmor—who were brought together for an album on Pyroclastic Records—will perform in concert for the first time, Evan Ziporyn and Maya Beiser will offer a symphonic reimagining of David Bowie’s final work, Blackstar, with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and Argentine composer, producer, musician Gustavo Santaolalla—winner of numerous Grammy Awards and Academy Awards for his celebrated soundtrack work—will present his 1998 Nonesuch Recording, Ronroco, in concert.
Moreover, Penguin Cafe—Arthur Jeffes’ group in tribute to his late father Simon Jeffes’ legendary Penguin Cafe Orchestra (whose debut record was released 50 years ago via Brian Eno’s Obscure label)—will spotlight new compositions as well as that of the original group and Singer Petra Haden will return to reimagine the music of King Crimson for acapella voice/choir. Building on its eight-hour Big Ears debut last year, Ragamala (A Garland of Ragas) will expand to 12 hours this year, a sequence of concerts featuring legends and masters of Indian classical traditions.
The electric bass player, and now scholar, Melvin Gibbs will bring his groundbreaking history, How Black Music Took Over the World, to life with a series of curated events too, including a celebration of the Gullah Geechee traditions of the Georgia Sea Islands and South Carolina’s Low Country. That mini-festival also include performances by the Grammy-winning Charleston band, Ranky Tanky.
Here’s a look at Big Ear’s lineup
@ • Adam O'Farrill's ELEPHANT • Adrian Sherwood • Amina Claudine Myers • Ana Roxanne • Andy Stott • Ava Mendoza and Hamid Drake • Avey Tare • Avishai Cohen - Big Vicious • Bang On A Can - Celebrates 40 Years • Beauty Pill • Bedouine • The Big Star Quintet • Bill Frisell Residency • Bob James • Brad Mehldau Trio • Bronwyn • Carla dal Forno • Case Oats • Charlotte Mundy • Che Apalache • Chicha Libre • Chris Potter "Alive With Ghosts Today" • Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet • Cornelius • Courtney Barnett • Craig Taborn Trio • Dagmar Zuniga • Daniel Lanois • Dave Harrington, Jay Bellerose & Billy Mohler • David Murray Quartet • Dawn of Midi • Diles Que No Me Maten • Dinner Party (Robert Glasper / Terrace Martin / Kamasi Washington/9th Wonder) • Dirty Projectors (solo) • Discovery Zone • Efrim Manuel Menuck and Tashi Dorji Present BLOOM AND RUIN • El Khat • Ettore Buzzini • Fabiano do Nascimento • Finom • Gillian Welch & David Rawlings play Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning • goat (jp) • Greg Tardy • Gustavo Santaolalla • The Hands Free • Hannibal Buress • Helado Tropical • Helen • Hemphill Stringtet with Ursula Oppens • Horse Lords • How Black Music Took Over the World: A Melvin Gibbs Curation • HYUKOH • Ida • Ingrid Laubrock's Grammy Season + DoYeon Kim • Jakob Bro / Joe Lovano / Midori Takada • James Brandon Lewis Quartet • James Elkington and Nathan Salsburg • Jasper Llewellyn • JD Pinkus Triptych • Jeff Parker ETA IVtet • Jeff Tweedy • Jeremiah Chiu • Jessica Pavone String Ensemble • Jim James • Jim White Trio • Joan Shelley • Joanne Robertson • John Carroll Kirby • Josh Johnson ANIMATIVE • Judith Berkson Trio • Kahil ElZabar & David Murray • Kaki King • Kali Malone Presents Burning Song • Kalia Vandever & Dave Harrington • Kalia Vandever Quartet • Karen Y Los Remedios • Karly Hartzman • KatzPascale • Ken Vandermark • Kevin Morby • Kronos Quartet with Peni Candra Rini • L'Rain • Leenalchi • Lia Kohl • Liam Kazar • Linda May Han Oh • Lovano / Makhathini / Morgan / Cyrille • Lucy Railton • Luke Schneider Curation: Chrome Universal - Modern Pedal Steel Guitar • Magic Tuber Stringband • MANAS • Manu Delago & Max ZT • Marcus Gilmore • Marina Herlop • Marisa Anderson • Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble • Matthew Shipp • Mavis Staples • Maya Beiser & Evan Ziporyn: Bowie Cello Symphonic • Meat Puppets • Melvins • Mexican Institute of Sound • Midori Takada • Min Xiao-Fen & Julian Kytasty • Mon Rovîa • Moor Mother • Mount Eerie • Mouse on Mars • My New Band Believe • Nadia Sirota • Natalie Merchant with Erik Della Penna • Nathaniel Rateliff • Nduduzo Makhathini • Nels Cline • Nicole Mitchell and Joe Westerlund • Nirosta Steel • NOMON • Norah Jones • One Leg One Eye • Oneohtrix Point Never • Oruã • Otto Benson • Pachyman • Pamela Z • Parker Ramsay & Miranda Cuckson • Penguin Cafe • Petra Haden Sings King Crimson • Pranksters South • Ragamala returns! 12 Hours of Ragas • Ranky Tanky • Robert Glasper • Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal • Ryan Clackner Quartet • Ryan Clackner's Existential Dread • Ryley Walker • Salami Rose Joe Louis • Sara Serpa • Shardik • Sheila Kay Adams + Nest of Singing Birds • Sierra Hull • Sleaford Mods • SML • Star Moles • Sumie Kaneko • Suzanne Ciani • Sylvan Esso • Sylvie Courvoisier TRIO feat. Drew Gress & Kenny Wollesen • This Is the Kit • Thundercat • Tim Bernardes • Tomeka Reid • Trio of Bloom (Nels Cline / Marcus Gilmore / Craig Taborn) • Tristan Perich • Tyondai Braxton • U.S. Girls • Ursula Oppens • Valentina Magaletti • Valerie June • Vanishing Twin • VariegOrchestra • Vieux Farka Touré & Roberto Fonseca • Vijay Iyer Residency • Visible Cloaks • Wednesday • Weyes Blood • Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, Macie Stewart • William Parker 75th Birthday Residency • The Womack Sisters • Wyatt Ellis • Yasuaki Shimizu • Yeah NO • Yilian Cañizares • Zig Zag Trio (Will Calhoun, Melvin Gibbs, Vernon Reid)
