Big Ears 2027: More of the same, but more

Fairly massive lineup here: https://bigearsfestival.org/

Here's what's in the biggest print: The Big Star Quintet, Brad Mehldau Trio, Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet, Courtney Barnett, Daniel Lanois, Dinner Party (Robert Glasper / Terrace Martin / Kamasi Washington / 9th Wonder), Gustavo Santaolalla, Hannibal Buress, Jeff Tweedy, Jim James, Kevin Morby, Kronos Quartet with Peni Candra Rini, Mavis Staples, Maya Beiser & Evan Ziporyn: Bowie Cello Symphonic, Mon Rovîa, Natalie Merchant with Erik Della Penna, Oneohtrix Point, Never with Freeka Tet, Penguin Cafe, Robert Glasper, Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, Sylvan Esso, Thundercat, Trio of Bloom (Nels Cline / Marcus Gilmore / Craig Taborn), Wednesday, Weyes Blood

Then there's a big-ass William Parker retrospective, and a lot of good stuff in smaller print: Adrian Sherwood (hope he makes it this year), Jeff Parker ETA IVtet, SML, Kali Malone, Mouse on Mars, Vieux Farka Touré, Beauty Pill, Dagmar Zuniga, Helado Tropical, Ida, I don't know just a ton of stuff. The separate paid shows are Norah Jones (eh, although I did really like her live album from a few years back), and Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings doing their acoustic Grateful Dead thing, which I'll definitely see if I can sneak into.

So ... a lot of incredible stuff in the smallest print on the poster. Is all that stuff pretty accessible? Can you get into most of the shows at, like, the Carla dal Forno / Star Moles / Joan Shelley / Jeremiah Chiu level?

I guess I'm hoping that if there's long lines and potential shut-outs, it's all in that "special presentation" area and above (on the poster) and the smaller stuff is get-into-able.

Here's the poster:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DdQEmrQN6VY/

I'd love to see Vanishing Twin, Horse Lords, Suzanne Cianni, and US Girls. The Melvin Gibbs power trio with Vernon Reid and Will Calhoun sounds cool, but I'm kind of bummed that Bill Frisell isn't teaming up with them to revisit Power Tools and his collab with Reid from back in the 80s. I guess he's truly done with the more noisy, experimental sounds that used to be such a big part of his act back then.

Is all that stuff pretty accessible? Can you get into most of the shows at, like, the Carla dal Forno / Star Moles / Joan Shelley / Jeremiah Chiu level?

Generally yes. It can be a little unpredictable because if somebody just got a big NYT feature or something you never know who might be attracting buzz. And of course those acts tend to be at the smaller venues, which can fill up — but usually don't.

First Beauty Pill live show in 5 years and they're putting out a new album . Chad Clark said on Facebook- Beauty Pill once did a black box surround-sound residency at Artisphere, a museum in Arlington VA. The project was called Immersive Ideal.
Every night of the residency sold out and the experience was positive for band and audience alike. We have very fond memories of this and wish to do it again.
We are bringing the Immersive Ideal experience to Big Ears.

Ava Mendoza and Hamid Drake - who have an album together on my label - will be performing.

lol the only people to have fond memories of the Artisphere!

(jk I saw Phill Niblock perform in the dome room with his films)

Is Hannibal Buress doing a standup set?

I guess? The artist bio on the program talks about both his comedy and his music (which I didn't know about).

Ah, didn't know about the music either....