BFrank Posted March 25, 2017 Report Posted March 25, 2017 Anyone at (or ever been to) this festival? It's one of the more interesting lineups I've seen anywhere. A wide variety of music centered in downtown Knoxville, TN. I'm seriously thinking of going next year. Big Ears Quote
JSngry Posted March 25, 2017 Report Posted March 25, 2017 Rod Stasick is there as we speak. Sounds like him and Sharon are really enjoying both the music and the town. Pretty sure he'll see this when they get back. Quote
Jason Bivins Posted March 25, 2017 Report Posted March 25, 2017 I'm here and it's great! Came to U-Tenn to give a talk and stayed for this. Best performance so far (although there are way too many to see, and the quality is extraordinary) has been Frederic Rzewski doing "The People United Shall Never Be Defeated." Sat on the floor right next to the piano's open lid and it was mind-blowing. I hope to come back next year. Quote
BFrank Posted March 28, 2017 Author Report Posted March 28, 2017 I've been hearing great things - both the performances and the venues. Nice review in RS, too: Big Ears 2017: Where Jeff Tweedy Is Noise Star, Symphony Plays on Floor Quote
ombudsman Posted April 2, 2017 Report Posted April 2, 2017 I don't have a lot of experience with big festivals but this was my 3rd year at Big Ears and I plan to keep going as long as possible. I went to at least 20 shows this time, including Carla Bley twice, Gavin Bryars twice, M.E.V., Hans Joachim Roedelius, etc. Would have put a few more on my list before the drive home (Rangda, Henry Threadgill, and a Norweigian fiddle player whose name escapes me) but by the middle of day 4 it takes a real toll on the legs. Quote
BFrank Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Posted April 3, 2017 Next year is looking more and more like a real possibility. Down Beat had a nice overview of the week: Big Ears Festival Embraces Jazz Experimentalism Quote
kh1958 Posted April 6, 2017 Report Posted April 6, 2017 Any comments on the logistics of this festival? Can you walk from venue to venue or do you need a car to get around? How are the venues? Good sound? Are they overcrowded? Is admission smooth and easy? Quote
BFrank Posted April 6, 2017 Author Report Posted April 6, 2017 I've heard that all the venues are in walking distance around the downtown area. Quote
Jason Bivins Posted April 7, 2017 Report Posted April 7, 2017 They were all within walking distance, maximum 15-20 minutes apart (at a leisurely pace). I found it all very smooth and well-organized. Not every venue chosen was perfect for every act (sometimes a bit too much ambient noise in the Mill & Mine venue specifically) but for the most part the venues were great. No monster crowds, which was really refreshing. Artists were super accessible too, and just a good vibe overall. Quote
kh1958 Posted April 7, 2017 Report Posted April 7, 2017 Thanks--it sounds like an event worth planning for and attending. Quote
kh1958 Posted November 1, 2017 Report Posted November 1, 2017 The 2018 lineup was announced this morning, and it's pretty strong from a jazz point of view. Abigail Washburn & Wu Fei Aine O'Dwyer performs William Eggleston's Musik Algiers Anna & Elizabeth Anna Thorvaldsdottir: "In the Light of Air" performed by International Contemporary Ensemble Anoushka Shankar: "Land of Gold" Arto Lindsay Bang on a Can All Stars celebrate their 30th anniversary with works by David Lang, Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe Bang on a Can All Stars perform Julia Wolfe's "Anthracite Fields" Bang on a Can All Stars "Field Recordings" Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn Béla Fleck & Brooklyn Rider Bonnie "Prince" BillyBrimstone & Glory live score performed by Nief-Norf and Wordless Music Brooklyn Rider Cleek Schrey & David Behrman Craig Taborn Quartet Cyro Baptista & the Banquet of the Spirits Cyro Baptista presents "Vira Loucos" Diamanda Galás Duet for Theremin & Lap Steel Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble Four Tet Gas Godspeed You! Black Emperor Innov Gnawa International Contemporary Ensemble Jaga Jazzist Jaga Jazzist featuring Ståle Storløkken & Jon Balke Jason Moran Duo with Milford Graves Jason Moran presents Fats Waller Dance Party Bangs (Jason Moran, Mary Halvorson and Ron Miles) Jenny Hval Jenny Scheinman presents "Kannapolis: A Moving Portrait" Jenny Scheinman's "Mischief & Mayhem" with Nels Cline & Scott Amendola Juana Molina Julie Byrne Kelly Lee Owens Kid Koala (DJ Set) Kid Koala's "Satellite" Turntable Orchestra Knoxville Symphony Strings performs "Were You There" with baritone Davoné Tines Laurel Halo (DJ Set) Laurel Halo (Live with Eli Keszler) Lightning Bolt Lucius Medeski Martin & Wood Milford Graves Nels Cline: "Lovers" with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra and guests Peter Evans Ensemble Rocket Science (Peter Evans, Sam Pluta, Craig Taborn, Evan Parker) Roscoe Mitchell Trios Rostam Rova: "The Sound in Space Project" Rova Channeling Coltrane: "Electric Ascension" Sam Amidon Steve Gunn Steve Gunn & the Black Twig Pickers Susanna "Go Dig My Grave" featuring Giovanna Pessi, Frode Haltli, Cheyenne Mize and Susanna Suuns Tal National The Black Twig Pickers The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda performed by the Sai Anantam Ashram Singers The Jerry Douglas Band The Thing Tyshawn Sorey Trio Quote
BFrank Posted November 2, 2017 Author Report Posted November 2, 2017 I'm definitely going. Should be great! Quote
kh1958 Posted November 2, 2017 Report Posted November 2, 2017 I'm planning on going for the first time also. Quote
jeffcrom Posted November 3, 2017 Report Posted November 3, 2017 My closest friend and oldest musical partner, Rob Rushin, wrote a piece about last year's festival for the wonderful online magazine The Bitter Southerner. And I've got to put in a plug for perhaps the most obscure ensemble on the bill - Atlanta's Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel. The group is just what the name says it is, and they are pretty far from jazz, if that matters. "Ambient" would be their category, I guess. Scott Burland and Frank Schultz improvise long, atmospheric pieces in which it is seldom clear who is making what sound. They are almost always magical. Sometimes I think, "I've heard them so many times - do I really need to hear them again?" And I'm always glad I did. Quote
BFrank Posted November 3, 2017 Author Report Posted November 3, 2017 Big Ears Festival Announces Jazz-Heavy 2018 Line-Up - Rolling Stone Quote
kh1958 Posted January 19, 2018 Report Posted January 19, 2018 According to the Festival's post on Twitter, the detailed concert schedule is coming out on Tuesday. Quote
kh1958 Posted January 19, 2018 Report Posted January 19, 2018 There appear to be two Roscoe Mitchell concerts scheduled. Quote
randyhersom Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 I just ordered day pass tickets for Friday and Saturday. My Friday priority list Evan Parker Solo Rocket Science with Evan Parker Trio Five with Roscoe Mitchell Milford Graves Jason Moran (Fats Waller Dance Party) The Thing Rova Half a dozen others. For Saturday Evan Parker Electro Acoustic Ensemble Roscoe Mitchell Trios Jason Moran and Milford Graves Peter Evans (if I like him on Friday) Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog. Quote
kh1958 Posted January 25, 2018 Report Posted January 25, 2018 There's a lot of interest to hear, especially on Friday and Saturday. I wonder when they release the detailed schedules? Quote
BFrank Posted January 26, 2018 Author Report Posted January 26, 2018 I want to see just about everything! Going to have to make a lot of tough decisions, for SURE! Quote
kh1958 Posted February 6, 2018 Report Posted February 6, 2018 The detailed/hour by hour schedules are now up on the website. Quote
randyhersom Posted February 7, 2018 Report Posted February 7, 2018 Here's a venue map, I hope it isn't shrunken too much to be readable. Big Ears Venues My Friday looks like: Roscoe Mitchell kicks off Friday at Noon at the Standard Rova Either Ikue Mori or Milford Graves knowing I will have to leave early. Rocket Science - Evan Parker, Peter Evans, Craig Taborn Some combination of Jenny Scheinman with Nels Cline, Bela Fleck and/or Medeski Martin and Wood The Thing Jason Moran Saturday Scheinman Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic end of Bela Fleck beginning of Peter Evans All of Jason Moran - Milford Graves End of Marc Ribot Evan Parker Solo Most of Roscoe Mitchell Trios If not ready to crash then probably more Rova wow! Quote
kh1958 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Posted February 8, 2018 I am working on my plan still. At present it is: Thursday: Jaga Jazzist; Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel; Okkyung Lee Friday: Roscoe Mitchell Trio Five; Rova, The Sound in Space Project; Milford Graves; Jenny Scheinman Mischief and Mayhem; TAL National; Jason Moran Fats Waller Dance Party. Saturday: Wu Fei; Cyro Baptista and Banquet of the Spirits; Jason Moran and Milford Graves; Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog; Roscoe Mitchell Trios; Rova, Chanelling Coltrane Electric Ascension. Sunday: Julie Byrne. Unfortunately, I have to leave Sunday afternoon so I will miss Bangs. But, Roscoe Mitchell at noon, that is cool. And on the same day, TAL National from Niger. Quote
BFrank Posted February 9, 2018 Author Report Posted February 9, 2018 On 2/8/2018 at 8:20 PM, kh1958 said: I am working on my plan still. At present it is: Thursday: Jaga Jazzist; Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel; Okkyung Lee Friday: Roscoe Mitchell Trio Five; Rova, The Sound in Space Project; Milford Graves; Jenny Scheinman Mischief and Mayhem; TAL National; Jason Moran Fats Waller Dance Party. Saturday: Wu Fei; Cyro Baptista and Banquet of the Spirits; Jason Moran and Milford Graves; Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog; Roscoe Mitchell Trios; Rova, Chanelling Coltrane Electric Ascension. Sunday: Julie Byrne. Unfortunately, I have to leave Sunday afternoon so I will miss Bangs. But, Roscoe Mitchell at noon, that is cool. And on the same day, TAL National from Niger. That looks good! I haven't tackled the schedule yet. I'm sure it will be challenging. Quote
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