Photo Credit David Simchock
The Scene
Big Ears in Knoxville, Tennessee, is part of a group of intriguing American music festivals that have cropped up in the spring and fall seasons. Big Ears likes to explore connections between musicians while mixing it up with film, performance, and the visual arts. The venues are varied including the Knoxville Museum of Art, a cathedral, and an ornate theater.
Festival Info
Festival Poster
2022 Artist Lineup
Animal Collective
- Patti Smith and Her Band
- John Medeski
- Julian Lage Trio
- Ben Lamar Gay
- Claire Rousay
- 75 Dollar Bill
- 79rs Gang Mardi Gras Indians
- Alabaster dePlume
- Ambrose Akinmusire
- Andrew Cyrille
- Andy Shauf
- Angel Bat Dawid
- Animal Collective
- Annette Peacock
- Areni Agbabian
- Arooj Aftab
- Attacca Quartet
- Aurora Nealand & The Royal Noises
- Balún
- Bang on a Can All Stars
- Bill Callahan
- Bill Frisell
- Bonny Light Horseman
- Caroline Shaw
- Cassandra Jenkins
- Ches Smith
- Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
- Craig Taborn
- Dafnis Prieto
- Damon Locks
- Dan Weiss
- Dawn Richard
- Dos Santos
- Efterklang
- Ellen Reid
- Ellis Ludwig-Leone
- Fennesz
- Georgia Anne Muldrow
- Gyan Riley
- Harriet Tubman
- Jaimie Branch
- James McVinnie
- Jason Moran
- Jeff Parker and the New Breed
- Joe Henry
- John Hollenbeck
- John Zorn
- Joseph Branciforte
- Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society
- Kim Gordon
- Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
- Kris Davis
- Kronos Quartet
- L’Rain
- Lakou Mizik
- Leyla McCalla
- Lido Pimienta
- Lisel
- Low
- Marc Ribot
- Mary Lattimore
- Mdou Moctar
- Meredith Monk
- Moses Sumney
- mssv
- Myra Melford
- Nathalie Joachim
- Nubya Garcia
- Pedrito Martinez
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- RAM
- Ron Miles
- Sarah Davachi
- Saul Williams
- Shabaka Hutchings
- So Percussion
- Sons of Kemet
- Sparks
- Spektral Quartet
- Sporty’s Brass Band
- Sudan Archives
- Terry Allen and Panhandle Mystery Band
- Theo Bleckmann
- Theon Cross
- Tristan Perich
- Val Jeanty
- William Tyler
- Yves Tumor