Sharon and I again went to the annual Big Ears music festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. It’s such a great festival that it really doesn’t matter who’s headlining — we will just go.
I’ll forget who we saw this year, so …
Thursday:
Prototype film screening (C&S) — hyped, terrible
Anna Thorvalsdottir / Intl Contempory Ensemble (C) — meh, fine
Susanna (C&S) — killing time, really, and it was pretty bad
Duet For Theremin and Lap Steel (C&S) — ATL hometown buddies made good!
Godspeed You Black Emporer (C?) — didn’t really care for them before, and now still don’t
Friday:
Bang On A Can All-Stars “Field Recordings” (C) — really good! was bracing for insufferable pretentiousness
Nief Norf & Wordless Music “Brimstone and Glory” live score — fantastic, a festival highlight
Algiers (C) — really incredible rock performance
Arto Lindsay (C) — either a disaster or a Brazilian poly-rhythmic delight, not sure which
Jenny Scheinman et al (C) — fine
Jaga Jazzist (C) — please kill me
The Thing (C) — only caught the end but it was good, nice to see Mats Gustafson again, some 20 years later
Jason Moran “Fats Waller Dance Party” (C) — pretty good and fun, and that singer, hoo boy
Saturday:
Rushes Ensemble (C) — “seven bassons” is better than it sounds, a festival highlight
Kid Koala’s Satellite Turntable Orchestra (C) — a crowd pleaser and he’s an engaging performer
Aine O’Dwyer performing William Eggleston (C) — pipe organ in a church, surprisingly fun and funny, ask me about it
Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda (C) — utterly unique and spellbinding
Diamanda Galas (C&S) — the headlining reason that mandated our attendance to this festival; electrifying
Four Tet (C) — no
12-Hour Drone (C) — a logistical mess but Duet at least made it work during their hour
Sunday:
Tyshan Story Trio (C) — fine
Suuns (C) — their recorded output is fascinating but this left me flat; however I only had time for like 10 minutes …
Abigail Washburn and Wu Fei (C&S) — extremely talented and engaging peformers but also slick and somewhat saccharine
BANGS (C) — kept falling asleep, and also I now hate the Bijuo balcony seats
Nief Norf peforming Steve Reich (C&S) — fine
Lightning Bolt (C&S) — yee haw, that’s a good way to end a festival