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
2023 Artist Lineup
Calexico
Ibeyi
Iron & Wine
- 700 Bliss
- Abe Rounds
- Adia Victoria
- Allison Russell
- Amadou & Mariam
- Amaryllis & Belladonna
- Andrew Bird
- Antonio Sánchez
- Arooj Aftab
- Ava Mendoza
- Bad Hombre
- Béla Fleck
- Bill Frisell
- Bill Laswell
- Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet
- Blake Mills
- Bonny Light Horseman
- Brian Marsella
- Bryan Sutton
- Calexico
- Carl Stone
- Carol Emanuel
- Caroline
- Caterina Barbieri
- Cécile McLorin Salvant
- Chamber Music
- Charles Lloyd
- Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupul
- Christian McBride
- Cobra
- Dave Lombardo
- David Moore
- David Murray
- Devendra Banhart
- Edgar Meyer Trios
- Eliza Bagg
- Elizabeth Bates
- Fujita
- Gatos Do Sul
- Gnostic Trio
- Grouper
- Gyan Riley
- Ibeyi
- Ichiko Aoba
- In Order To Survive
- Iron & Wine
- JACK Quartet
- James Blood Ulmer
- Joe Lovano
- John Medeski
- John Zorn
- Josephine Foster
- Joshua Roman
- Julian Lage
- Justin Moses
- Kali Malone
- Kenny Wollesen
- Kevin Morby
- Kinfolk
- Kirsten Sollek
- Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
- Lonnie Holley
- Los Cubanos Postizos & The Jazz-bins
- Los Lobos
- Love In Exile
- Maeve Gilchrist
- Makaya McCraven
- Marc Ribot
- Mark Schatz
- Mary Halvorson
- Mayan Space Station
- Michael Cleveland
- Michael Nicolas
- MIVOS Quartet
- Nate Smith
- Nate Wooley
- Nate Wooley & Carol Robinson
- Nove Cantici
- Painkiller
- Pino Palladino
- Rachel Calloway
- Rafiq Bhatia
- Reid Anderson
- Rich Ruth
- Rickie Lee Jones
- Sae Hashimoto
- Sam Gendel
- Sam Wilkes
- Sarah Brailey
- Shahzad Ismaily
- Sierra Ferrell
- Sierra Hull
- Son Lux
- Sona Jobarteh
- Steve Gunn
- Steve Reich
- Tarbaby
- Tarta Relena
- Terry Allen and Panhandle Mystery Band
- Tessa Lark
- The Bad Plus
- The Mountain Goats
- The Weather Station
- Trigger
- Tyshawn Sorey
- Vijay Iyer
- Vinicius Cantuaria
- William Parker
- Xylouris White
- Yarn
- Yura Lee
- Zoh Amba