(Text copy-pasted from Facebook, posted here for quick reference in future. Each event had 1-2 photos posted, with much more information in the photo captions.)
And so it begins. Another March, another Big Ears music festival, the weirdo / avant gardey weekend put on by Ashley Capps who made his money years ago and is now spending it on this. It’s an absolute juggernaut with 4-6 shows happening simultaneously for 12 hours daily for four days.
Big Ears day 1 of 4, Thursday, two photos of each performance:
- Dither playing Laurie Spiegel
- Kaoru Watanabe’s Bloodlines Interwoven ensemble
- SML and the troublesome new Greyhound venue
- Jamie Lidell and Luke Schneider
- Marc Ribot’s Shrek
It’s only one day in and I’m already behind in logging what I’ve seen. I’m missing a show right now actually just to type this up and get it off my mind, before the next eight shows crowd into my brain
Big Ears day 2 of 4, Friday, first full day, whew:
- Newport Jazz documentary
- Ghost Train / Moondog
- Reggie Watts
- Meara O’Reilly vocal ensemble
- Marilyn Crispell and drummer and Regas crazee video teaser
- Roscoe Mitchell’s circular breathing
- Steve Bernstein’s 15-strong ensemble pays tribute to Sly Stone
- Wu Fei on her Chinese zither thing (with accomp.)
- So Percussion and Caroline Shaw
- His Name Is Alive (I know, right?)
- Patrick Watson (wait, what?)
- Regas video production
- Sullivan Fortner trio and an elevator story
- Saha Gnawa BEST OF FESTIVAL
- Model / Actriz (yikes)
- Dirty Three and the spectacle that is Warren Ellis
- a Zorn trio (he’s baaaaack)
Big Ears festival day 3 of 4, Saturday:
- three movie screenings, sort of
- sadly extremely little of Nik Baertsch’s Ronin
- an Indian raga
- Joyful Noise jam session at Pretentious Beer Co
- Saami Brothers plus dad
- Peni Candra Rini, front row, full set, BEST OF FESTIVAL (tie)
- Hania Rani
- Anaastaaasiiiaaa (oops)
- Winged Wheel
- SML again
- Flying Lotus
Big Ears festival day 4 of 4, Sunday:
- morning run across the re-opened Gay Street bridge
- Chicago Underground Duo
- Lou Reed Drones
- Richard Dawson (and Shane and Wendy, sorta)
- Gary Lucas and friends
- Either / Orchestra play Ethiopiques
- Nels Cline Lovers
- JACK quartet play John Luther Adams
- possibly my favorite spot in all of Knoxville
- Openness Trio
- Orcutt / Shelley / Miller
- karoake and a car full of kegs
- Big Ears production and logistics
- a bike story