Day three of Big Ears opened with warm skies and an already-packed schedule, and it delivered on every front — from intimate acoustic revelations to a late-night Grateful Dead tribute that felt like a genuine event.
Haley Heynderickx The Point | 12:00 PM
Rob: Saturday got off to a beautiful start with Haley Heynderickx at The Point. Her set was elegant and intimate, anchored by impressive guitar work and a soft-spoken presence that immediately drew the room in. She balanced deeply emotional material with moments of gentle humor — at one point joking about a song inspired by running into an ex at a Thai restaurant — creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that set the tone perfectly for the day ahead.
Paul: I was blown away. I could well have remained for the entire set and been happy, but another show occupied the same time frame.
Clark: Her storytelling was vivid and clear. I felt right with her. Mellow. Calming. Almost Willie Nelson-like.
Gwenifer Raymond Barley's | 12:00 PM
Paul: A guitarist's guitarist. That's the only way to put it. Gwenifer Raymond drew musicians right up to the edge of the stage to get a closer look at her fingering — and for good reason. Her playing was simply strong, a master class in acoustic precision that left the room in quiet awe.
Thurston Moore & Shabaka Hutchings Mill & Mine | 1:00 PM
Rob: The pairing of Thurston Moore and Shabaka Hutchings produced something genuinely experimental — a set full of cool musical ideas that pushed the boundaries of what either artist does solo. It wasn't always comfortable, but that's the point. This is Big Ears, after all.
Paul: I was into it a bit more but planned to see both in other sets. Thus we left. I didn't get to their other sets, sadly. But I'm glad we dipped in.
Hayden Pedigo The Standard | 2:45 PM
Rob: Sweet. Beautiful. Respectful. Hayden Pedigo's set was all of those things and more. He brought the room into his world with great stage stories and a disarming honesty about overcoming stage fright that only made his performances feel more meaningful. A quiet highlight of the afternoon.
Paul: Hayden Pedigo was in the top 3 of my must see sets. The other two come up later. He replayed the first song, Carthage, because he didn't think he played it well the first time. Both were beautiful. This was a stay for the whole set for me.
Perfume Genius Mill & Mine | 3:30 PM
Paul: Perfume Genius drew a devoted crowd to Mill & Mine for what was, by all accounts, a characteristically intense and theatrical performance. Not everyone's cup of tea — but undeniably a singular artistic vision. I didn't stay long.
Never the less, the band was tight and the light show (other than the strobe) was beautiful.
Mei Semones The Standard | 5:15 PM
Rob: Having been interviewed ahead of the festival by Paul, Mei Semones was already on our radar — and she did not disappoint. Her band's setup was strikingly unique, weaving together guitar, violin, and viola into a dynamic, almost frenetic interplay that was as visually engaging as it was sonically distinctive. The violin and viola players were genuinely fun to watch, trading energy back and forth with technical precision and obvious joy. The audience felt it too — the room was alive. One of the most memorable discoveries of the day.
Paul: Another of my must-see sets. Mei didn't play long but she and her band packed in technical proficiency with clear enjoyment of the moment. Most fun was watching the violin and viola players' interactions. Some of Mei's music has strong South American influences which I find delightful.
Madison Cunningham Knoxville Civic Auditorium | 6:45 PM
Rob: Madison Cunningham delivered one of the day's most captivating performances at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. The stage design evoked a forest-like setting, adding an immersive quality to an already theatrical show. Backed by a versatile band incorporating piano, guitar, saxophone, and more, Cunningham moved seamlessly from atmospheric, textural passages into high-energy guitar work — two artists somehow conjuring the sound of a much larger band. Her powerful voice anchored it all. This was a set that exceeded expectations and marked her as an artist worth following well beyond the festival.
Paul: Yet another of my must-see sets. Like Tune-Yards on Friday, they made mich of the stage and their playing. Madison's voice is strong and beautiful. The only issue I had was the amount of time they spent tuning their instruments. It took away from the flow.
MJ Lenderman & The Wind Knoxville Civic Auditorium | 9:30 PM
Rob: If Madison Cunningham set the bar high, MJ Lenderman & The Wind vaulted over it. Their rise over the past few years has been remarkable, and this performance made clear exactly why. The band was tight, energetic, and full of personality — from violin to cowbell, the sound was vibrant and layered in all the right ways. The lead guitarist's wild stage presence added to the excitement without ever sacrificing musical precision. Lenderman previewed new songs alongside crowd favorites, keeping the energy laid-back and rocking at the same time. Having seen him perform in a different context before, it was striking to witness just how much his profile and presence have grown. In a landscape where guitar-driven rock bands can feel underrepresented, this felt like a glimpse of something enduring and important.
Paul: Like Rob, I'd seen MJ in another context when Wednesday played Cherry Street Tavern a few years back. We talk often about stage presence, and MJ has it from the years on the road. Witty and wry.
Clark: M.J. is a force in Americana rock music now. Impressive to see such a large crowd responding to the songs, including singing the lyrics back to him. His lackadaisical slacker vibe makes him very Rock-n-Roll. In contrast, the lead guitarist was barely able to contain himself.
Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble Tennessee Theatre | 11:00 PM
Rob: The night closed at the Tennessee Theatre with Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble — a set that had also been previewed through an interview by Clark Gibson and proved to be the perfect closing statement for the evening. Incredible, energetic, and joyful from start to finish.
The ensemble was stacked with talent, highlighted by a stunning vocal performance from Stefani Christian, one of the standout voices of the entire festival. In a special tribute, the group performed Blues for Allah in its entirety to mark its 50th anniversary, with moving acknowledgment of Bob Weir and his deep connection to the project. It was a powerful, celebratory cap to a day that had already given us so much.
Paul: Wow. I knew they'd play a lively show but was unprepared for being blown away like that. Strong recommend if you get a chance. They did a cover of The Grateful Dead's Blues for Allah in its entirety. People were dancing and throwing their arms in the air with ecstasy.
Clark: A very full, loud sound. An all-star cast of the Detroit music scene who's who. They played off of each other incredibly well. I love that so many people were touched by the songs.
Note: AI assisted in the assembly of this article as before by transcribing audio and grammar checks.
