The dazzling, boundary-defying Big Ears Festival will return on April 1 – 4, 2027, to downtown Knoxville, TN, for its 14th iteration with what may be its most dynamic and multidimensional lineup yet. Once again, many of the world’s leading musical visionaries will perform in the festival’s two dozen venues throughout the four-day weekend. For tickets and more information, click here. Courtney Barnett, Jeff Tweedy, Sylvan Esso and other acts will be performing as well.
With a lineup too wide-ranging and varied to easily pin down, this year’s festival welcomes an incredible array of artists. There are classical virtuosos like violinist Jennifer Koh, pianist Ursula Oppens and cellist Maya Beiser: leading jazz legends from Brad Mehldau and Bill Frisell to David Murray, Robert Glasper and Chucho Valdés; singer/songwriters Norah Jones, Natalie Merchant, Nathaniel Rateliff, Rosanne Cash, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings; electronic pioneers Oneohtrix Point Never, Mouse on Mars, Tyondai Braxton, and Tristan Perich.
Also, exciting critically acclaimed indie artists like Wednesday, Weyes Blood, Kevin Morby, and U.S. Girls; international legends like Gustavo Santaolalla, Yasuaki Shimizu, and Midori Takada; and newer voices like Yilian Canizares, Fabiano do Nascimento, Tim Bernardes, and El Khat; and sonic explorers like Kali Malone, Pamela Z and Valentina Magaletti. This is truly just scratching the surface. Over 250 concerts and performances, plus films, artist conversations, workshops, exhibitions and interactive experiences will come together in an irresistible, kaleidoscopic feast for the ears, in an array of historic theaters, churches, rock clubs, museums, event spaces, converted warehouses, galleries and other surprise locations within the very walkable footprint of Knoxville’s historic downtown.
Photo Credit: Kalyn Oyer
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