Big Ears Festival 2009 [Knoxville, TN]

ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS
FENNESZ (solo)
FENNESZ/LINKOUS/MINOR
MICHAEL GIRA (Swans / Angels of Light)
PHILIP GLASS
JON HASSELL + MAARIFA STREET
MATMOS
THE NECKS
NEGATIVLAND
PAULINE OLIVEROS
WENDY SUTTER

The weekend of February 6 – 7 – 8, 2009 will see the maiden voyage of a new “boutique” music festival concept called BIG EARS in Knoxville, Tennessee. The mission of BIG EARS is to create a dynamic cross-genre music and arts festival experience. Spearheaded by Ashley Capps, president of AC Entertainment and longtime fan of cutting edge music, the BIG EARS experience will include concerts by legendary innovators along with young cutting edge visionaries and experimentalists crossing a variety of genres. The festival will also include art installations, exhibitions, performance art, seminars with artists, and interactive experiences.

Perhaps best known as a founder and producer of the acclaimed mega-festival, Bonnaroo, Capps envisions a very different experience at Big Ears, “Big Ears is conceived as a boutique festival, appealing to a very focused audience of music fans with adventurous tastes. We’re hoping to sell a thousand tickets to our inaugural event, but we intend for everyone who attends to have an extraordinary experience.”

Capps envisions BIG EARS as happening several times a year in different cities – with each festival loosely defined by a unifying thread. In keeping with its moniker – BIG EARS is a term often used to describe especially gifted and insightful listeners- the inaugural festival’s concept is about listening. “I have a compelling interest in music that demands your complete attention, that quietly insists that you slow down and listen - and that transports you into another world. It seems that there are others who long for that experience as well. And this is a quality common to the music of many of the artists performing at BIG EARS in February,” says Capps.

Discussion stations will be located throughout the Big Ears festival where festival goers can take a break, relax and meet each other. Live and evolving ambient music will be provided by musicians at each location. As part of this process, the musicians will interview willing festival attendees and may include portions of the shared conversation into special musical pieces. The newly created pieces will be provided online and often on-site throughout the festival. Be sure to bring a jump drive. Special high quality green and black teas and herbal infusions will be served at these venues, sometimes by the musicians themselves.

thinking about going down for this. i haven't been back to knoxville in a while, be a nice excuse to visit. like i said on the other thread, i think it's great ashley's doing the fest there. it's a cool thing for the city, even if most of the city will inevitably not appreciate it. (the perky local tv news coverage of it will be guaranteed hilarious.)

Happy and excited for this. Come crash on my floor if I know you and you are not a crepe.

a crepe:

http://funhouserock.com/funhouse/blab/picture.php?albumid=33&pictureid=394

^ I wouldn't want that crashing on my floor either

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/silence/archives/sunsphere.jpg

world fail

holy crap I will not miss this

(the perky local tv news coverage of it will be guaranteed hilarious.)

― tipsy mothra, Friday, December 19, 2008 2:32 AM (10 hours ago) Bookmark

While the names might not be as familiar as Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, music fans from around the world are expected to attend the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville Feb. 6-8.

http://www.knoxville.com/news/2008/dec/06/big-ears-festival-will-feature-philip-glass/

Capps says that, although Knoxville seems like an unlikely city for this music festival, it made sense because of the wealth of good venues, restaurants and hotels for visitors.

queen of rox, please spill the beans on all the delicious knoxville eats.

stefano's pizza

naples

KING TUT'S

buddy's barbecue

Big Ears is excited to announce the following additions to the line up for our inaugural festival, Feb. 6 – 8, 2009, in Knoxville, TN:

* Violinist and electronics composer C. Spencer Yeh will perform with his visionary Burning Star Core

* Electronic pioneer and hardware hacker Nic Collins will lead a workshop building electrical instruments from unlikely sources

* Master electronic party impresario Dan Deacon will be bringing his Baltimore Round Robin

* Avant folk gypsy Larkin Grimm will perform her spellbinding songs

* Internationally acclaimed woodwind virtuoso Ned Rothenberg will perform solo as well as collaborate with others

* San Agustin will create their power metal drone pieces

* Improvisational sorcerers the Shaking Ray Levis will conjure up their “old timey” avant-garde

Eats: Tomato Head, ftw.

This looks like a ton of fun.

was that in an email, tipsy?

make us a trip, Trip Maker

It has been a while since I spent any time in Knoxville. But this can not happen in february, unfortunately. And passes are like 200 bucks! If I could afford it I would be all over it.

xxpost: ashley just posted it on a kxville message board. i think there's a press release going out.

I have a compelling interest in music that demands your complete attention, that quietly insists that you slow down and listen - and that transports you into another world. It seems that there are others who long for that experience as well. And this is a quality common to the music of many of the artists performing at BIG EARS in February.

Wottan a-hole. His interest in music quietly insists I slow down and listen. It compels me and demands my complete attention. His interest in music transports me into another world. I'm Doctor Who when Ashley's along.

Maybe after 7 years of Bonnarroo he wants to watch a band where a hippie isn't bumping into him, asking for cloves and regaling him with "this one time I saw Oysterhead" stories.

ashley's a good dude. i'm sure he's pissed off plenty of people over the years (find a music promoter who hasn't), but he does a lot of things like this just to spotlight stuff he likes. there were plenty of shows he brought to knoxville while i was there that there was no way he was going to make money on, but it was people he wanted to bring town. (like, booking dave douglas and charms of the night sky into a converted bank lobby.)

Well, I certainly hope this makes tons of fucking money so I can go again next year. You in tipsy?

thinking hard about it. gotta sort out my vacation sked for next year. (i was gonna go down for bonnaroo, but this is more appealing.)

His interest in music quietly insists I slow down and listen. It compels me and demands my complete attention. His interest in music transports me into another world. I'm Doctor Who when Ashley's along.

― bamcquern, Friday, December 19, 2008 4:47 PM (50 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Literal lol. Though I am loathe to hate on the dude for obv reasons.

Oh and re: restaurants, there is a stupid amount of restaurants in Knox. We have a thread about Knoxville where we talk about some of 'em.

A shortlist:
KING TUT (sokno, too much to say, see other thread probably)
LITTON'S (north, best burger in knox, best lemon cookie anywhere)
MARY'S HOT TAMALES (east, an institution)
tomato head (mkt square)
nama (downtown, kinda $$$)
naples (west, a little $$)
big fatty's (west)
java in the old city is my second home and they have good coffee and some el cheapo vegan chili and hummus and some good sandwiches and are A+ good people (though poster bamcquern^ has no use for one of them, regrettable really)
harold's r.i.p. had to list it anyway, loved u harold

Thursday through Saturday evenings you can go to Dixson's on Magnolia, real close to the Old City, for a pulled pork sandwich or ribs. Cheap and delish!

"Poster bamcquern"? Your friend, you pretender!

I love Harold and his hot pink trucker hats, too.

I LOVE YOU MARY

that was supposed to be a joke, bryce! haw

I knew that.

for breakfast downtown: pete's diner on union. cheap, good folks, good grits.

i thought pete's finally closed

did it? my info's predictably out of date. i just thought someone would have told me... anyway, that's sad. i like pete.

actually scratch that, they're still open/reopened

and their menu is here: http://www.petescoffeeshop.com/html_version.html

haw

oh good. not that it's all that special, but it's cheap and there's not a lot of breakfast options downtown. plus, this:

Grits Served Upon Request w/ Egg Order

it is in a different place than it used to be, but tis still on union

and it is a good cheap breakfast

Oh so now, NOW Knoxville gets a global fucked-up music festival, in 2009, a decade after my WUTK veterans' noise band broke up and all left town.

God dammit.

Son of a bitch.

Piss.

wait i didnt realize you were in a noise BAND here

yeah, me and wolfgang, we totally opened for windy & carl at the tomato head even.

i almost went to that windy&carl show but i think i went and got drunk somewhere instead. what was your band?

Inbred Misanthrope

it is a small assed world

I got a greatest hits collection from our monday night radio sessions I should totally put out on cdbaby so I can start clocking those crazy emusic dollars

srsly roxy you have no idea. after I went off and joined the USAF and got stationed in maryland I found out wolfgang was teaching at a DC school. Actually managed to meet up and even jam together a couple of times. Haven't heard from him in a long time though.

we are going to party like it is 2010 imo

u better get a ticket for real this year

if whiney & ethan show up again i might make the trip over tbh

i can play the role of deeznuts this time

haha here is the quote. Doctor Who! i was way off

His interest in music quietly insists I slow down and listen. It compels me and demands my complete attention. His interest in music transports me into another world. I'm Doctor Who when Ashley's along.

― bamcquern, Friday, December 19, 2008 4:47 PM (50 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

loool

xpost lol. please do!

JS, I'm 80% in based on last year's line-up and the Terry Riley rumor

wasnt there something about guitars

Maybe I will make it up this year, what with $80 airfares.

xpost apparently someone would play one

Read it in Dusted.

lol

actual lol

I might go to this

yeah i've heard nothing more re riley or the lineup. but i guess they'll have to say something soon.

i know i heard something about guitars

I know there's a Knoxville thread around, but really, tht cereal bar rules a lot

ive actually still never been inside it except once on a mission to break in the back door of pilot light

the lady working was super sweet, and they had cereal

sure

xxpost Why would you wanna do that?

Cereal bar - good in theory, less so in practice.

I maybe just have a crush on Knoxville

its a cute place

I really must try and go to this thing if it happens again.

xpost yeah, it is despite everything

i know i heard something about guitars

crimson grail would be a good idea.

I emailed Ashley once or twice about please bring Rhys Chatham please please please

free passes iirc

!!!

Hmmm

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/jencheng/car-crash-1-pool.jpg

ssshh guys ned's considering something

Sorry, I was just coughing.

so it's apparently moved back to march or april. dates still not set.

I wish that I could do this.

WHY DONT YOU "MAKE" THE "TRIP"???

haha, caps unintentional.

School, work, life. I make trips with no movement.

google earth huh

psychedelics

the combo is undeniable

combo of big ears + hiking sounds a+
thinking of going to this

doing it in the spring instead of february will definitely enhance the hiking opportunities...

i'm not averse to hiking in the cold, but april sure sounds better than february

how long is this imo i can maybe swing it

Big Ears 2010: March 26-28

excellent, that fits my work schedule and misses my niece's wedding

here we go:

For Immediate Release November 17, 2009

Big Ears Festival Returns in 2010
March 26-27-28

Composer Terry Riley Confirmed As Artist In Residence

KNOXVILLE, TN. The BIG EARS FESTIVAL is proud to announce another weekend of visionary
music, exploratory art, and southern hospitality for March 26, 27, and 28 in historic Knoxville, Tennessee.
This time, BIG EARS is especially proud to host the legendary American composer TERRY RILEY as
Artist in Residence for the weekend with a series of concerts throughout the weekend celebrating Riley’s
75th Birthday year. In addition, the weekend will feature an exciting array of artists and performers from
the worlds of rock, jazz, classical, and avant-garde music along with installations, exhibitions, interactive
experiences, talks, and workshops.

One of the most influential musicians and composers of the past century, TERRY RILEY’s impact and
influence on contemporary music and art cannot be overstated. In 1964, his revolutionary composition, In
C, launched the Minimalist movement in music and his influence is still heard today in the work of Philip
Glass, Steve Reich, John Adams and other classical composers. His subsequent early works, A Rainbow
in Curved Air and Poppy Nogood, with their kaleidoscopic, psychedelic atmospheres, sent waves across
the musical worlds of the 1960s, strongly reflected in the music of The Who, Pink Floyd, and other rock
bands of the time. That influence continues today in the music of Radiohead and Animal Collective and
even The National and Bon Iver. It’s no surprise that TERRY RILEY was recently selected by the
London Times as one of the “1000 Makers of the 20th Century.”

“It’s a tremendous honor to have Terry Riley participate in our festival this year. It’s a dream come true.”
says Big Ears founder, Ashley Capps, also a creator and producer of the renown Bonnaroo Music and Arts
Festival.

RILEY himself will perform in several different concerts of his work during the weekend, with a variety
of musicians. Also, the Calder String Quartet will present a program of his work. And a sure highlight of
the weekend will come when many of the artists performing during the weekend join together for an
unforgettable performance of In C, “one of the definitive masterpieces of the 20th Century.”
Additions to the BIG EARS line up along with ticketing information will be released in early December.

you guys wanna start a new thread?

http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=76871#unread