Big Ears Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Ears Festival |
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Big Ears Festival 2009 with Matmos performing
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| Genre | Indie rock, Classical music, Alternative rock, Minimalist music, Jazz, Metal, Electronica |
| Location(s) | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States |
| Years active | 2009–2010, 2014-present |
| Website | Official Website: http://www.bigearsfestival.com |
The Big Ears Festival is an exciting annual music festival held in Knoxville, Tennessee. It's known for featuring many different types of music, from indie rock to classical music and jazz. This festival is created and produced by AC Entertainment.
Contents
Discover the History of Big Ears Festival
The Big Ears Festival started in 2009. It was founded by Ashley Capps, who also started AC Entertainment. He worked with Jason Boardman and Chris Molinski to bring this unique music event to life.
Early Years: The Festival Begins (2009-2010)
The very first Big Ears Festival happened in February 2009. It featured artists like Philip Glass, Antony And The Johnsons, and Matmos. It was a great start for a festival that wanted to explore many different sounds.
In 2010, the famous composer Terry Riley became the first "Artist in Residence" for the festival. This meant he was a special guest artist. The festival celebrated his 75th birthday with several concerts. Bryce Dessner from the band The National also helped choose some of the artists for that year. The 2010 festival included groups like Dirty Projectors, The xx, and Sufjan Stevens.
That year, there was also a film festival alongside the music. Jessica Dessner, Bryce's sister, organized it at the Knoxville Museum of Art.
A Break and a Big Return (2011-2014)
After two successful years, the Big Ears Festival took a break. The festival planned for 2011 was postponed and then canceled. But fans were excited when news of its return started in 2013.
Big Ears officially announced its comeback in October 2013. The festival returned in March 2014. This time, the famous composer Steve Reich helped curate, or choose, the artists. The lineup included well-known names like Television, John Cale, and Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood.
Recent Festivals: Diverse Sounds (2015-2019)
The festival continued to grow and feature amazing artists.
- The 2015 festival had groups like Kronos Quartet, Laurie Anderson, and Swans.
- In 2016, artists such as Kamasi Washington, Angel Olsen, and Sunn O))) performed.
- The 2019 festival brought Spiritualized, Punch Brothers, and Rhiannon Giddens. The Art Ensemble of Chicago also celebrated their 50th anniversary with a special performance.
Sadly, the 2020 festival had to be canceled. This was due to the COVID-19 outbreak, to help keep everyone safe and healthy.
What People Say About Big Ears
The Big Ears Festival has received a lot of praise from music critics.
In 2009, Ben Ratliff from The New York Times said the festival was "heaven." He noted how easy it was to enjoy great music in a relaxed city. He also liked that the focus was purely on the music, without many interruptions.
In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine called Big Ears "arguably the classiest, most diverse festival in the country." This shows how much they appreciated the wide range of music offered.
After its successful return in 2014, Christopher Weingarten of Rolling Stone wrote that Big Ears was "the most ambitious avant-garde festival to emerge in America in more than a decade." This highlights the festival's unique and forward-thinking approach to music.
