Will Oldham is a multifaceted artist whose talents extend across music, acting, and songwriting, shaping a career that spans over three decades. Under various aliases like Palace Songs, Palace Brothers, and Palace Music, or the name you're most likely acquainted with, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Oldham has left an indelible mark on American folk music.
Ahead of his performance at the Big Ears Festival, I had the privilege of speaking with Oldham. Held annually in downtown Knoxville, the Big Ears Festival is an eclectic live music event that defies, blurs, and occasionally obliterates genre boundaries. Rolling Stone described it as "the most ambitious avant-garde festival to emerge in America in more than a decade."
That sounds like a natural fit for Will Oldham.
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Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie "Prince" Billy performing at The Tennessee Theater in Knoxville, TN at Big Ears Music Festival 2024.
Photo by Nessa Parrish / WUTC
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Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie "Prince" Billy performing at The Tennessee Theater in Knoxville, TN at Big Ears Music Festival 2024.
Photo by Nessa Parrish / WUTC
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Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie "Prince" Billy performing at The Tennessee Theater in Knoxville, TN at Big Ears Music Festival 2024.
Photo by Nessa Parrish / WUTC
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Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie "Prince" Billy performing at The Tennessee Theater in Knoxville, TN at Big Ears Music Festival 2024.
Photo by Nessa Parrish / WUTC
