Get ready for another unforgettable weekend at Big Ears 2025
This weekend, Big Ears Festival returns to downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, with nearly 200 performances across clubs, churches, theaters, and art galleries.
The lineup spans genres, from jazz and folk to rock, classical, electronic, ambient, and experimental. It features iconic names, up-and-comers, and exciting projects and collaborations from the center to the fringes of the music world.
Béla Fleck summed up why Big Ears is my favorite festival when he told Nate Chinen on Conversations About Music, the festival’s official podcast, “If I was to go to a festival myself, that’s where I would want to go, because I would want to hear people exploring the edges of musical consciousness ... it’s just about listening—stuff that’s really made to listen to, and you have to bring a certain listening consciousness when you show up.”
That's exactly what makes this festival so special to me. Big Ears is ultimately about exploration and discovery.
You'll see celebrated names like Taj Mahal, Esperanza Spalding, Béla Fleck, Arooj Aftab, Yo La Tengo, Waxahatchee, Beth Gibbons, and Explosions In The Sky—but you’ll also find artists like tilt, Kalia Vandever, Magic Tuber Stringband, Cowboy Sadness, and Mabe Fratti.
Though these artists and projects might not be household names just yet, their talent is undeniable, and having the chance to see them all in one weekend is an absolute treat.
Every artist on the lineup has earned their place, and for one weekend each March, Knoxville becomes the ultimate destination for discovering something incredible.
There’s so much to experience at this year’s festival, but here are the performances I’m most excited to catch at Big Ears 2025.
Magic Tuber Stringband
Courtney Werner and Evan Morgan, the duo behind Durham’s Magic Tuber Stringband, channel the earthy spirit of Appalachian folk with an experimental intensity. Their guitar and fiddle work shifts between eerie, hypnotic melodies and the bright, swirling energy of old-time tunes. This North Carolina duo creates a sound that feels traditional but with thrilling and unexpected twists.
Sunday, March 30, 2025 – 12:30 PM at Jackson Terminal
Michael Hurley
Michael Hurley has spent decades crafting an outsider folk sound that is entirely his own. Inspired by early rock ‘n’ roll and pre-war blues, he emerged from the Greenwich Village scene in the ‘60s and has remained an underground favorite ever since. His music has found new listeners across generations, from hippies to indie folk fans.
Friday, March 28, 2025 – 7:00 PM at The Point Church
SUSS
SUSS, a New York-based instrumental group, and ambient country pioneers, blend Americana with the droning qualities of country music and Western film scores. Their sound combines the mournful twang of pedal steel and harmonicas with synthesizers and loops, creating vast, cinematic atmospheres. Think Brian Eno meets Ennio Morricone meets Ry Cooder. SUSS will perform multiple shows, including hosting Across the Horizon Nights, a kind of festival inside the festival with solo and collaborative performances.
Thursday, March 27, 2025 - 8:15PM at Regas Square
Nanocluster (SUSS + Immersion) Thursday, March 27, 2025 - 9:00PM at Regas Square
Across The Horizons: Friday, March 28, 2025 – 9:30PM at The Point Church
Saturday, March 29, 2025 10:00 PM at The Point Church
Alan Sparhawk
Alan Sparhawk, co-founder of the influential band Low with the late Mimi Parker, is forging a new creative path. Known for shaping atmospheric, intimate music, he has recently collaborated with artists like Yo La Tengo and Trampled by Turtles. In September 2024, he released his debut solo album, White Roses, My God, a raucous mix of rock and electronic sounds.
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – 8:30 PM at Jackson Terminal
Astrid Sonne
Danish composer and violist Astrid Sonne merges electronic experimentation with classical influences and improvisation. Her latest album, Great Doubt, introduces her vocals and pop-forward elements alongside her signature textured, contrast-driven compositions. Sonne is definitely one of my must-see performances at this year’s festival.
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – 8:15 PM First Presbyterian Sanctuary
Sunny War
Sunny War carves out a unique sound with dexterous, almost anxious guitar work that blends punk, folk, and blues. Originally from Nashville, with years in Los Angeles, she now calls Chattanooga, TN home. Her breakout album, Anarchist Gospel, delves into themes of struggle, resilience, and reinvention. Her latest record, Armageddon In A Summer Dress, has more polished soul feel that I cannot wait to see live.
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – 6:15 PM Jackson’s Terminal
Tortoise
The Chicago-based band Tortoise has been creating powerful and distinct instrumental music for over 25 years, blending elements of rock, jazz, electronica, and minimalism. Widely credited with helping to usher in the post-rock movement of the 1990s, Tortoise has collaborated with or contributed to projects such as Isotope 217, Slint, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Stereolab, The Sea and Cake, and many more.
Thursday, March 27, 2025 – 9:00 PM Mill & Mine
Merce Lemon
Pittsburgh-based musician Merce Lemon blends honest songwriting with earthy, folk-infused rock. Her latest album, Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild, emerged after a period of introspection, inspired by time spent farming and self-reflection. Lemon's music delves into themes of love, loss, and belonging, with songs that range from introspective ballads to intense, electrified outbursts.
Friday, March 28, 2025 – 7:30 PM Jig and Reel
Still House Plants
Still House Plants, a London-based trio formed by Glasgow School of Art grads, blends sharp, fractured rhythms with a pop foundation. Their experimental sound mixes slowcore, sampling, and repetition, shifting between chaos and order. Their 2024 album If I Don't Make It, I Love U has earned critical acclaim from outlets like Pitchfork and The Guardian.
Friday, March 28, 2025 – 7:45 PM The Standard
Mike Reed’s Separatist Party
Mike Reed is a Chicago-based drummer, bandleader, and composer known for melding experimental and improvised music. His project The Separatist Party explores themes of isolation and loneliness, inspired by a 2015 New York Times story. The ensemble features Ben LaMar Gay, Marvin Tate, and the Bitchin Bajas. They combine a variety of global influences into unique, groove-driven tracks.
Friday, March 28, 2025 – 8:30 PM Jackson’s Terminal
Macie Stewart
Yet another Chicago-based artist you can’t miss is Macie Stewart. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter, her sound blends piano, violin, guitar, and synths into rich, emotional journeys. Her 2021 solo debut Mouth Full of Glass features lush, introspective tracks that explore identity and connection. Stewart is also a founding member of the Chicago band Finom.
Sunday March 30, 2025 – 4:30 PM Regas Square
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
The Durham, North Carolina-based duo Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves bring a new level of intensity, skill, and excitement to traditional banjo and fiddle music. Their fiery live performances open stringband music up to fresh ears, with adventurous, original tunes that dive deep into emotion while honoring the rich heritage of traditional American music.
Saturday, March 29, 2025 – 1:30 PM Knoxville Museum of Art
Big Ears Festival continues to be a celebration of music in all its forms. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor, there’s something for everyone to discover in Knoxville this March.
You can find the full lineup and schedule for this year's Big Ears Festival here.
Music passes to this year's festival are sold out, but Film-Only passes to film screenings are still available. You can find information on those passes and the festival-authorized ticket exchange here.
More Big Ears 2025 coverage from WUTC
