AC's internationally acclaimed Big Ears music festival is back in town this week. Here are the details. Bonus: Ashley's picks after the break....
This IS the week, and we have visitors coming to Knoxville from 48 states (not sure what’s up in Idaho and Nebraska…) and at least 21 countries – including Australia, Japan, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Serbia. They are coming to the Big Ears Festival, to experience over 120 events over 4 days (March 21 – 24) at a dozen of our wonderful venues throughout the heart of downtown Knoxville.
If you aren’t already, I hope you’ll join them – for a show or two anyway. It’s a blast!
Quite a few have asked me for a list of “top” or “must see” shows – so I decided to compile a quick list of 10 shows that I think almost anyone with a pulse would love. Whether you only have the time or inclination to see one or two concerts – or you are looking for an entry point into the whole, admittedly somewhat overwhelming experience - I hope this might be useful.
10 PICKS FOR BIG EARS 2019
LUCY NEGRO REDUX at the Tennessee Theatre Thursday, March 21 at 8:00pm (also on Wednesday, March 20, in a separately ticketed show) Just do it! I think you’ll be completely mesmerized by “Lucy Negro Redux,” the Nashville Ballet’s remarkable collaboration with poet Caroline Randall Williams and musician Rhiannon Giddens. As The New York Times wrote: “A Nashville miracle... a beautifully choreographed ballet, but it was more than a ballet: It was also a spoken-word incantation and a showcase for the musical genius of Rhiannon Giddens.”
HELLO EARTH! THEO BLECKMANN sings KATE BUSH at the Bijou Theatre Thursday, March 21 at 8:30pm. A brilliant singer covers a rock icon. It’s really wonderful!
KIM KASHKASHIAN plays Bach and Kurtág at St. John’s Cathedral Friday, March 22 at 7:15pm. One of the most gifted classical virtuosos in the world, seeing Kashkashian’s performance of Bach’s Cello Suites at St. John’s Cathedral will be amazing.
RHIANNON GIDDENS & FRANCESCO TURRISI at Church Street United Methodist Church on Friday, March 22 at 8:00pm. Rhiannon and Francesco have some special treats up their sleeves for this one. Just sayin’.
HAROLD BUDD has created some of the most beautiful and evocative musical dreamscapes that I’ve ever heard. His collaborations with Brian Eno and the Cocteau Twins – and his work for string quartet – has been part of my life for decades. At age 82, he rarely performs live and he will be presenting new work and revisiting old, with special guests, over three days of concerts: Church Street Methodist Friday, March 22 at 3:00pm; St John’s Cathedral Saturday, March 23 at 9:00pm; and Bijou Theatre Sunday, March 24 at 8:00pm
KAYHAN KAHLOR is – to my ears – simply one of the greatest musicians on the planet. You may have heard him with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. He is a master of the Iranian kamancheh – a bowed string instrument. There are two opportunities to hear him: Solo at St John’s Cathedral Saturday, March 23 6:00pm and with Brooklyn Rider at the Bijou Sunday, March 24 5:00pm
JACK DEJOHNETTE with RAVI COLTRANE & MATT GARRISON at the Tennessee Theatre Saturday, March 23 at 7:30pm. One of the master jazz drummers of all time, DeJohnette is known for his work with Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett as well as his own bands. Expect pure mastery.
NILS FRAHM’s one man show – sitting at a spaceship console of pianos and multiple electric keyboards – encompasses classical romanticism with pulsing electronic grooves, creating a musical soundscape that is symphonic in scope. Watching and hearing him do it is a wonder. See him at the Tennessee Theatre Saturday, March 23 at 10pm
SONS OF KEMET – two drummers, a tuba, and the saxophone of Shabaka Hutchings, one of the shining lights of London’s Jazz Renaissance. Irresistible. The Mill & Mine Saturday, March 23 12:00 midnight
RICHARD THOMPSON with The Knoxville Symphony Strings at the Bijou Theatre Sunday, March 24 at 1:30pm. The British master songwriter – and one of Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest guitar players of all time – will be heard here as never before, presenting his powerful World War I song cycle, commissioned by the WWI Centanary. Part two will include some of his classic songs and newly arranged covers, like the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby.”
UNCLE EARL into THE PUNCH BROTHERS The Mill & Mine Sunday March 24 6:30pm and 8:15pm The bluegrass fueled Big Ears hoedown of your wildest dreams.
Oh…that was 11…sorry! There’s over a hundred more so… head to bigearsfestival.org to dig in further.
I hope to see you out and about!
Cheers!
Ashley
Topics:
|
|
Discussing:
- Private equity ownership of hospitals made care riskier for patients, a new study finds (15 replies)
- Kansas man sues Tim Burchett for defamation over false tweets put out following Chiefs Super Bowl parade (2 replies)
- Is tap water safe to drink? CDC report highlights deadly waterborne infections (3 replies)
- Knoxville begins effort grow city’s tree canopy by 2040 (1 reply)
- These businesses say they can’t keep up with consumer demand without immigrant workers. Americans just don’t want the jobs (1 reply)
- TN Republican Rep wants to change TN wetland regulations (6 replies)
- Brick and mortar going too much online? (1 reply)
- Measles is a 'heat-seeking missile' experts warn as Florida outbreak grows (3 replies)
- Begone Bradford Pear trees! (1 reply)
- Is Burchett demented? (3 replies)
- Tennessee Rising! (1 reply)
- Why are prices still so high? Corporate greed, some say (3 replies)
TN Progressive
- Trae Says It Better Than I Can (RoaneViews)
- Malcolm Holcombe has Left the Building (RoaneViews)
- CNN Looks at Tennessee Legislature (RoaneViews)
- It's voting time again. Let's get out the vote. (BlountViews)
- Two Evil Forces At Work in America, Trump is merely a symptom (RoaneViews)
- Winter at the Big Rocks (Whitescreek Journal)
- Maryville Daily Times Home Delivery changing again (BlountViews)
- Amazon facility in Rockford finally opens (BlountViews)
- Share your ideas for the Blount County Comprehensive Plan 2023 (BlountViews)
- Secrets from My Radio Days (Joe Powell)
- Fall 2022 (Whitescreek Journal)
- Mmmm, A Fresh Hot Cup of Joe (Joe Powell)
TN Politics
- Editor’s notebook: Same old Vanderbilt (TN Lookout)
- Velsicol brokering chemicals years after Memphis plant closure (TN Lookout)
- An anniversary for reflection (TN Lookout)
- Remembering the Covenant School victims one year later (TN Lookout)
- The Angry Grandmother observes Lent (TN Lookout)
- John Cole’s Tennessee: High on their own supply (TN Lookout)
Knox TN Today
- Rodney Woods, coaching legend, fired in Kentucky (Knox TN Today)
- Ridgedale principal: ‘It fills our hearts!’ (Knox TN Today)
- 218 property transfers worth $78.39 million (Knox TN Today)
- Cody Gentry is city’s Vision Zero coordinator (Knox TN Today)
- Johnson promoted at MoxCar Marketing (Knox TN Today)
- Everyday Arts is April 6 (Knox TN Today)
- ‘Symphony Soiree’ is sellout (Knox TN Today)
- Workday beginning (Knox TN Today)
- Honey Badger captures Hickory Nut Falls (Knox TN Today)
- Students partner with theatre professionals for ‘King Lear’ (Knox TN Today)
- Comic expo expands with festival atmosphere, after party (Knox TN Today)
- Services today for shoe man Hardy Johnson (Knox TN Today)
Local TV News
- Knox County growth policy plan rejected by Farragut leaders (WATE)
- How the Baltimore bridge collapse could impact East Tennessee (WATE)
- Powell veteran writes a book on his time in the Korean War to recognize those 'who didn't make it back' (WATE)
- Memberships to Ijams Nature Center jump sharply following parking fee announcement (WBIR)
- Sevier County family picking up the pieces after fire destroys home (WATE)
- Morristown breaks ground on new fire station to keep up with rising population (WATE)
- Kamal Hadden back to form for Pro Day following season-ending injury (WATE)
- Popular overlook in Smokies park closed due to road cracks (WBIR)
- Former Jefferson County sheriff, TBI agent David Davenport dies (WBIR)
- KPD: Crash Review Board will look into collision that resulted in injuries to officer, motorist (WBIR)
- Oak Ridge cleanup contractor to offer higher pay after signing new national union agreement (WBIR)
- Health science students to participate in emergency exercise on Roane State's Knox County campus (WBIR)
News Sentinel
State News
- Unemployment falls in Chattanooga to near record low - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- From UTC to NFL: Bradley Central grad Jay Person could be next - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- The Sweet 16 has provided a litany of heartaches for Vols - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- New homebuilding company formed in Chattanooga - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
Wire Reports
- March 28, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapse - CNN (US News)
- Protesters interrupt Biden, Obama, Clinton at $25 million New York fundraiser - Reuters (US News)
- Fallen 'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud - BBC.com (Business)
- Jonathan Diller: Trump attends wake of New York policeman shot on duty - BBC.com (US News)
- Va. Gov. Youngkin arrived like a GOP star, but arena failure clouds legacy - The Washington Post (US News)
- Disney Investor Blackwells Capital Sues The Company As Shareholder Vote Nears Close; Media Giant Calls Allegations “Baseless” And “Desperate” - Deadline (Business)
- What to know about the deadly Rockford, Illinois, stabbing spree - ABC News (US News)
- Apple dismisses Microsoft monopoly comparisons - TechCrunch (Business)
- The fight to flip the House just got harder for Dems. And they have New York to blame. - POLITICO (US News)
- Truth Social slips into the red as Trump Media stock hits turbulence - USA TODAY (Business)
- 'Outrageous': Bernie Sanders has Ozempic demands after study says it costs just $5 per month to manufacture - Fortune (Business)
- Stock market today: S&P 500's latest record closes out best first quarter since 2019 - Yahoo Finance (Business)
- Mega Millions $1.13 billion winner is facing mega tax bill. The amount is staggering. - NJ.com (Business)
- Trump's team cites First Amendment in contesting charges in Georgia election interference case - The Associated Press (US News)
- Watch out Tesla, smartphone builder Xiaomi's SU7 EV offers 434 mile range for under $30k - Electrek.co (Business)
Local Media
Lost Medicaid Funding
Search and Archives
TN Progressive
Nearby:
- Blount Dems
- Herston TN Family Law
- Inside of Knoxville
- Instapundit
- Jack Lail
- Jim Stovall
- Knox Dems
- MoxCarm Blue Streak
- Outdoor Knoxville
- Pittman Properties
- Reality Me
- Stop Alcoa Parkway
Beyond:
- Nashville Scene
- Nashville Post
- Smart City Memphis
- TN Dems
- TN Journal
- TN Lookout
- Bob Stepno
- Facing South
Thank you for sharing this,
Thank you for sharing this, Randy.
I put that list together for friends who ask as well as to encourage people to dip into the Big Ears experience, if only for a day and a show or two (a single day ticket is less that the cost of many shows these days). There's so much to enjoy.
We're certainly thrilled to have people traveling hundreds and even thousands of miles to attend, but my dream is to have more in our community embrace the experience as well.
I hope to see some of you downtown this weekend!
Ashley
AC, thank YOU for all you do!
(in reply to AC)
AC, thank YOU for all you do!
Thanks, Randy. I should
(in reply to R. Neal)
Thanks, Randy.
I should probably note that there's a fair amount of activity that is free without a festival pass:
Knoxville Museum of Art is free all weekend - it does include some of the more avant-garde music but also Jack White's Third Man Records book publishing arm is hosting a poetry reading with some special musical guests...among many other cool things.
The Pilot Light and Jig & Reel are also free all weekend, with surprise shows (alerts via app shortly before) and some pretty cool late night bluegrass jam sessions at the latter that can have some surprise guests.
And the Blue Plate special tomorrow with Rhiannon.