Big Ears Music Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee
The annual Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN is the largest avant-guarde music festival in the country. Music featured at the fest crosses all genres and strives to achieve a dynamic, interactive experience that explores connections between musicians and artists. The dates for the 2016 festival are March 31 – April 2.
The 2016 Big Ears performer line-up was recently announced. John Luther Adams will be the “Composer in Residence”. Adams composes symphonic pieces influenced by the natural environment. He won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in Music and the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for his piece, “Become Ocean.” See the full list of announced performers below.
A highlight performance will be the US premiere of a collaborative piece by Laurie Anderson and Phillip Glass.
Big Ears was founded in 2009 and has since become a major event in the world of cutting-edge music. The festival is put together by AC Entertainment, the say folks that also do Bonnaroo and The Forecastle Festival.
Festival events are held in venues throughout historic downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. Performances are held at the Tennessee Theatre, the Bijou Theatre, The Square Room, and The Standard. All are within easy walking distance of each other in downtown Knoxville.
Big Ears Music Festival Lineup:
John Luther Adams: Composer-in-Residence, Laurie Anderson & Philip Glass, Andrew Bird, Anthony Braxton, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra with guest conductor Steven Schick performing the Music of John Luther Adams, Bryce Dessner and Philip Glass with guest cellist Maya Beiser, Yo La Tengo, Sunn 0))), Nicolas Jaar (DJ), The Necks, The Gloaming, Outside the Dream Syndicate (Tony Conrad with Faust), Maya Beiser, Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith, Eighth Blackbird with Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Bryce Dessner, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Bedroom Community 10th Anniversary: Nico Muhly, Ben Frost, Sam Amidon & Valgeir Sigurðsson, Kamasi Washington, Marc Ribot, Kiasmos (Ólafur Arnalds & Janus Rasmussen), Shabazz Palaces, Bryce Dessner, Angel Olsen, Andy Stott, Phantom Orchard, Wolf Eyes, Faust, Bombino, Joe Henry, Tony Conrad, Xylouris White, Lambchop, Zeena Parkins & Tony Buck, Olivia Chaney, Mamiffer, Nief-Norf, Mary Halvorson, Hieroglyphic Being, Circuit Des Yeux, Ikue Mori, Chris Abrahams, Molly Nilsson
Big Ears Music Festival Hotels:
Hotels closest to the Big Ears Music Festival – The most convenient hotels for the Big Ears Music Festival are those located in downtown Knoxville. The city of Knoxville includes a fairly large area outside of the historic downtown area where there are plenty of additional hotels. You’ll need to drive into downtown if you stay on the outskirts, but there are several parking garages downtown (city garages provide free parking on nights and weekends).
The downtown hotels closest to Big Ears events are the Hilton Knoxville, Crowne Plaza Hotel Knoxville Downtown, and the Holiday Inn Knoxville Downtown. The Four Points by Sheraton and the Marriott Knoxville are also downtown, but they’re a little longer walk to the part of town where the Big Ears venues are located.
See a full list of hotels near downtown Knoxville.