Big Ears: 2010

A "Big Ears" performance of "In C" sounds stunning, without even knowing yet who will be involved.

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Will be there.

I bet Vampire Weekend will be playing the new material. This could end up being a lot of fun!

^I don't think so.

Might have to do this. good lineup.

Damn it. Anyone wanna buy Delfest tickets?

The Ex. Period. End of sentence. Damn it. I may just have to do it anyways.

EDIT: Screw it. Who wants to split a package?

i want to see st. vincent. but i don't want to go all the way up there if it's not a headlining set.

Just a taste of what Andrew W.K.'s set is going to be like

Seems they have added more to the lineup. I may hit this up depending on ticket prices. I also have friends in the area.

The lineup for BIG EARS 2010 continues to grow, with The National, Dirty Projectors, Bang On A Can All-Stars, Iva Bittova, Ben Frost, Tim Hecker, Tracy Silverman, and Buke & Gass now announcing their participation in the groundbreaking weekend of music, art, and film.

They join an already extraordinary array of artists playing the second incarnation of the festival. Vampire Weekend, the Calder Quartet, 802 Tour (Nico Muhly / Doveman / Sam Amidon with Nadia Sirota), Joanna Newsom, St. Vincent, Andrew WK, The Ex, Gang Gang Dance, Clogs, The xx , Javelin, DJ/rupture (solo), DJ/rupture and Andy Moor, My Brightest Diamond, Gyan Riley, and jj were announced in early December.

BIG EARS 2010 will also be celebrating the 75th birthday year of the legendary American minimalist composer, Terry Riley. Riley is “Artist in Residence” at the festival and will be performing several concerts during the weekend. The National’s Bryce Dessner is co-curating the weekend, with a number of surprise collaborations and presentations being planned.
The National – With the highly anticipated release of the follow up to their highly acclaimed record, Boxer, due this spring, the National will present their first performance of 2010 at Big Ears, debuting material from the new record and more.

Dirty Projectors – With one of the most acclaimed records of 2009, the dazzling Bitte Orca, the Dirty Projectors became renowned for their virtuosic live performances, ecstatic critical reviews and inventive collaborations with Bjork and David Byrne.

Bang on a Can All-Stars – This celebrated “classical” ensemble is really one part rock band, one part amplified chamber group. The Bang on a Can All-Stars will form the nucleus of an all-star performance of Terry Riley’s legendary piece, In C, joined by a number of special guests. Bang on a Can All-Stars will also perform Brian Eno’s celebrated, Music for Airports, at Big Ears and present a number of other works at the festival.

Tim Hecker – The music of this Canadian electronic artist (also known as Jetone) is described by the New York Times as, “foreboding, abstract pieces in which static and sub-bass rumbles open up around slow moving notes and chords, like fissures in the earth waiting to swallow them whole.”

Ben Frost – Icelandic experimental composer and colleague of the 802 tour, Big Ears will mark his first US performance since the release of, By the Throat, which received a rave review on Pitchfork last week. “This is Arvo Part as arranged by Trent Reznor.” – Wire Magazine

Buke & Gass – Described as a “’two-man (wall of sound) band’- although one of them is a woman.” (the Deli Magazine). Buke & Gass play bass, guitar, ukulele, kick drum, snare tambourine and sleigh bells… while singing at the same time.

Tracy Silverman – The “greatest living exponent of the electric violin” (BBC), Tracy Silverman has performed with a virtual “who’s who” of both the classical and pop music world. He will be performing at Big Ears in one of Terry Riley’s groups.

Iva Bittova - The virtuoso violinist and singer from Czechoslovakia is an amazing performer who moves freely through the worlds of classical music and improvisation. “Iva Bittová is an extraordinary artist. Raw and refined, passionate and contained, she has the soul of a gypsy, the voice of a troubadour, and the mind of a genius.” – NPR/All Things Considered

BIG EARS will consist of over 50 performances by over 30 artists during the weekend. There will also be art exhibitions, installations, film screenings, workshops, interactive experiences, lectures and discussions.
The initial allotment of weekend festival passes, the “Inner Ear” pass, sold out in early January. Remaining Inner Ear Weekend Festival Passes are available now at this link, or by calling 865.684.1200 ext. 2 between the hours of 10:00am and 5:00pm eastern.

The Big Ears schedule of events will be announced in late January. Tickets for individual concerts and events during the weekend will go on sale at that time.

Yeah, nothing that really reaches out and grabs me, here... sad, because conceptually, I'd glad we have this fest in the southeast.

One one hand, I tend to agree with the general disappointment that the festival has veered more towards traditional music festival tastes. On the other hand, a festival with a lineup this good in venues that nice is worth serious consideration.

Also, given his connections with everyone involved in this year's lineup, it would not be shocking that to see Sufjan added to this lineup.

Waiting on the Bonnaroo lineup before I make a decision on Big Ears. The schedule is pretty fantastic thus far though...

I am pumped about the Basinski add. Also, the schedule thus far is pretty great looking. Bang On a Can All Stars & The Books performing Eno w/special guest? Yes please.

Considering how underwhelmed I am with Bonnaroo this year, I'm thinking even more seriously about attending this one.