Big Ears Festival

View on map
MusicKnoxville
DatesDates TBA · Usually MarchCheck locally before booking
DurationSpringEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival's programming has consistently
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Big Ears Festival in Knoxville

Big Ears is an experimental and avant-garde music festival held each March across multiple downtown Knoxville venues, founded in 2009 by Ashley Capps, named for the music-industry slang term describing an especially perceptive listener, and now independently produced as a nonprofit after returning from a pandemic hiatus in 2022.

Big Ears takes its name from music-industry slang describing an especially perceptive listener, a fitting title for a festival built around programming that rewards genuine attentiveness over passive consumption.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's programming has consistently favored genuinely boundary-pushing artists over commercial headliners, drawing figures like Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Laurie Anderson, Kronos Quartet, and Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood alongside experimental, classical, jazz, and drone artists rarely booked together at a single American festival

02

The mystery stays covered

Terry Riley served as the festival's first Artist in Residence in 2010, celebrating his 75th birthday with three days of collaborative concerts, establishing an artist-residency tradition that has helped Big Ears build genuinely deep, curated relationships with major figures in experimental music rather than simply booking one-off performances

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Artist in Residence program

Water and renewal

Living ritual

established with Terry Riley in 2010

The sacred route

Living ritual

has continued to give the festival deeper curatorial relationships with major experimental musicians beyond single performances

The local code

Living ritual

and the festival's consistent booking of genuinely avant-garde and boundary-pushing acts

Tradition 5

Living ritual

rather than mainstream headliners

Tradition 6

Living ritual

has remained its defining curatorial identity since 2009

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually March

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Knoxville you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Casual attire suited to a multi-venue concert-going festival across downtown Knoxville; comfortable shoes for walking between venues over the festival's four-day run.

Safety

At Big Ears Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Big Ears Festival runs late.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map35.96 N, 83.92 WOpen in Google Maps

Knoxville, TN

Nearest airportTYS — McGhee Tyson
TransportStay close enough to the part of Knoxville you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Big Ears Festival runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Knoxville via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Knoxville, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for March.Compare faresFestival gearCasual attire suited to a multi-venue concert-going festival across downtown Knoxville; comfortable shoes for walking between venues over the festival's four-day run.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Big Ears Festival?

Big Ears Festival is listed for March · Spring. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Big Ears Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Knoxville, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Spring is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Knoxville, TN

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbigearsfestival.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually March
Source statusOfficial source linked
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