Chuck Nessa Posted March 29, 2018 Report Posted March 29, 2018 Had an outstanding time. Our first time to Big Ears, and not the last. Almost impossible to schedule a day without missing something great. Happy to see kh1958, charlesp, randyhersom, BFrank, jeffcrom and others. Made a bunch of new friends and spent time with some old friends. I see Randy mentioned The Thing (Paal Nilssnen-Love, Mats Gustafsson and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten) who had a great show Friday night. Ashley Capps does a great job. Couple of music fans below. Quote
BFrank Posted March 30, 2018 Author Report Posted March 30, 2018 6 hours ago, Aggie87 said: Impressive set of shows there, Buzz! How were Hidalgo & Ribot? Interesting pairing - I enjoy Ribot's Prosthetic Cubans albums. Curious if they played Lobos material or more traditional stuff. I would have loved to have seen every show you saw on Friday as well (Saturday too for that matter), though I'm unfamiliar with Nest Egg. Yeah, it was nuts! Actually Hidalgo & Ribot weren't as interesting as I hoped. Mostly more traditional stuff and not bad, but compared to the shows I saw later, not as interesting. I missed Ceramic Dog a day or two after, though. I think you would have liked a LOT of the shows AGGGGGGGG. I didn't get to see much of Nest Egg, unfortunately, but if they come this way I'll definitely see them again. Rockers, for SURE! Quote
kh1958 Posted March 31, 2018 Report Posted March 31, 2018 https://jazztimes.com/reviews/concerts/big-ears-2018/?utm_source=Mailings&utm_campaign=The+Bad+Plus+Reborn%2C+Avant-Jazz+in+Tennessee++++++++++++++++++&utm_medium=email Jazztimes review of festival. Quote
BFrank Posted April 1, 2018 Author Report Posted April 1, 2018 9 hours ago, kh1958 said: https://jazztimes.com/reviews/concerts/big-ears-2018/?utm_source=Mailings&utm_campaign=The+Bad+Plus+Reborn%2C+Avant-Jazz+in+Tennessee++++++++++++++++++&utm_medium=email Jazztimes review of festival. Thanks for posting. I saw many of those sets. Quote
kh1958 Posted June 15, 2018 Report Posted June 15, 2018 Already announcing partial line-up for 2019 (March 21-24): NILS FRAHM ADD MARY HALVORSON: CODE GIRL ADD LONNIE HOLLEY ADD RACHEL GRIMES: THE WAY FORTH ADD THE MESSTHETICS ADD IRREVERSIBLE ENTANGLEMENTS ADD DEREK GRIPPER Quote
BFrank Posted June 15, 2018 Author Report Posted June 15, 2018 Saw Mary Halvorson with Thumbscrew (Michael Formanek & Tomas Fujiwara) last night. Great show - looking forward to seeing all 3 of them again next year with Code Girl! Quote
kh1958 Posted September 25, 2018 Report Posted September 25, 2018 (edited) Based on today's line-up announcement, it looks like a trip to this festival is also worthwhile in 2019. Lineup as of Sept. 25, 2018: Acme Alvin Lucier Avishai Cohen Quartet Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan Bill Frisell and the Mesmerists featuring Tony Scheer Kenny Wollesen and the films of Bill Morrison Brooklyn Rider Carl Stone Carla Bley Trios with Andy Sheppard and Steve Swallow Carla Kihlstedt Clarice Jensen + Jonathan Turner: For This From That Will Be Filled Coupler Dejohnette Coltrane Garrison Derek Gripper Dragnet Girl with live score by Coupler Evan Parker/Matt Wright Trance Map+ Ever Present Orchestra featuring Stephen O’Malley and Oren Ambarchi perform the works of Alvin Lucier, Harold Budd International Contemporary Ensemble Irreversible Entanglements Jerusalem In My Heart Jlin Joan La Barbara Joan La Barbara performs works by Alvin Lucier Joan La Barbara: Voice is the Original Instrument Joep Beving Kara-Lis Coverdale Kayhan Kalhor & Brooklyn Rider Kim Kashkashian Lonnie Holley Lonnie Holley and The Messthetics Mary Halvorson’s Code Girl Mathias Eick Quintet Matt Wilson’s Honey & Salt Mercury Rev Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble Cellular Songs Concert Nief-Norf Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin Nils Frahm Peter Gregson Rachel Grimes: The Way Forth Rafio Bhatia: Breaking English Ralph Towner Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi Richard Thompson: Killed In Action Roomful Of Teeth Schlippenbach Trio Shai Maestro Trio Sons of Kemet Spiritualized Sun Of Goldfinger The Art Ensemble Of Chicago The Comet Is Coming The Messthetics The Nashville Ballet: Lucy Negro Redux choreography by Paul Westerling with music by Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi and poetry by Caroline Randall Theo Bleckmann: Berlin - Songs of Love and War, Peace and Exile Theo Bleckmann: Hello Earth! The Music of Kate Bush Thumbscrew Tim Berne's Snakeoil Triptych: On the work of Robert Mapplethorpe, featuring Roomful Of Teeth, composed by Bryce Dressner, Libretto by Korde Arrington Tuttle, featuring the work of Patti Smith & Essex Hemphill, directed by Daniel Fish Wadada Leo Smith solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk Wadada Leo Smith's NDA, performing "Divine Love" with Bobby Naughton and Dwight Andrews Edited September 25, 2018 by kh1958 Quote
JSngry Posted September 26, 2018 Report Posted September 26, 2018 Roomful Of Teeth, eh? Carpe diem on those folks! This festival is on my bucket list...including lodging, what's an approximate budget to be there for the entire thing? Quote
kh1958 Posted September 26, 2018 Report Posted September 26, 2018 A general admission pass for the whole festival is $225. Flights from Dallas are currently about $500. Unfortunately, Southwest does not fly to Knoxville, so American Airlines is the only nonstop option. Aadvantage tickets from Dallas are not reasonable (60,000 miles). The hotels will vary--the one I booked is $159 a night (excluding taxes). If you stay in the downtown area you can walk to all the venues. I use expedia.com for hotels. Quote
JSngry Posted September 26, 2018 Report Posted September 26, 2018 Hell, I can drive to Knoxville...the festival is how many nights? Lodging looks like it's going to be the big variable, lodging and, of course, time. I want to do this before all the old people die. Already I see fewer of them booked this year than last. I want to hear the old folks, the middle-aged, and the new kids. I want to experience the whole famn damily. Might end up being a retirement present to myself, but that's still 2-3 years off... Quote
kh1958 Posted September 26, 2018 Report Posted September 26, 2018 The festival begins Thursday evening, and is an all day affair on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Last year, I flew in Thursday afternoon and returned Sunday afternoon (the last flight leaves at 4:40), so I missed most of Sunday, but it was enough. They are not finished announcing the line-up. Quote
JSngry Posted September 26, 2018 Report Posted September 26, 2018 Sounds like a nice round figure to budget for, including meals, is somewhere between $1000-1250? That's staying for all of Sunday. Quote
BFrank Posted September 30, 2018 Author Report Posted September 30, 2018 I went this year - it was AMAZING. And next year looks as good, or maybe BETTER. If you can afford to get the VIP pass, it's worth it. You get priority entrance to the venues and some of them have reserved, close-up seating, too. You won't be sorry any way you get there. It's very well run, and Knoxville is a nice, walkable small city. Quote
ghost of miles Posted September 30, 2018 Report Posted September 30, 2018 I may try to make it down there in March with a friend of mine who’s attended before. Looks like a fantastic lineup, and it’d be fun to cross paths with some fellow Organissimos as well. Quote
randyhersom Posted October 11, 2018 Report Posted October 11, 2018 I stayed in a Motel 6 about 5 miles north, you won't be in your room much and breakfast is cheaper away from downtown. Quote
BFrank Posted November 13, 2018 Author Report Posted November 13, 2018 Full lineup announced today. A little overwhelming! Big Ears Festival Quote
kh1958 Posted December 4, 2018 Report Posted December 4, 2018 The website now shows the artists by day of appearance. Quote
randyhersom Posted December 6, 2018 Report Posted December 6, 2018 I'm very likely for Friday and Saturday, would love to add Sunday if I can. Having stood out in a cold rain last year while VIP ticket holders walked by to see Jason Moran and Milford Graves, I'll give some thought to the upgrade. I did get to see the end of that set, but missed a lot. The amount of musical options available makes it a whirlwind experience. If you plan to meet up with anyone there, best to arrange for text messaging in advance. I did meet Chuck Nessa and his wife but missed connecting with the other two Organissimo attendees. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted December 6, 2018 Report Posted December 6, 2018 22 minutes ago, randyhersom said: I'm very likely for Friday and Saturday, would love to add Sunday if I can. Having stood out in a cold rain last year while VIP ticket holders walked by to see Jason Moran and Milford Graves, I'll give some thought to the upgrade. I did get to see the end of that set, but missed a lot. The amount of musical options available makes it a whirlwind experience. If you plan to meet up with anyone there, best to arrange for text messaging in advance. I did meet Chuck Nessa and his wife but missed connecting with the other two Organissimo attendees. Yes to that. We hope to attend this year too. I can't afford to miss the ECM celebration with Roscoe, Wadada, etc. Unfortunately Hal Russell and Lester Bowie have passed. (Snark intended). I do admire the work. Quote
kh1958 Posted December 6, 2018 Report Posted December 6, 2018 I'm a little bummed that the Art Ensemble is scheduled for Sunday, as I'm leaving in the late afternoon on Sunday. Oh well, there's still a lot to enjoy Thursday evening to Saturday. Quote
BFrank Posted December 9, 2018 Author Report Posted December 9, 2018 On 12/6/2018 at 5:02 PM, randyhersom said: I'm very likely for Friday and Saturday, would love to add Sunday if I can. Having stood out in a cold rain last year while VIP ticket holders walked by to see Jason Moran and Milford Graves, I'll give some thought to the upgrade. I did get to see the end of that set, but missed a lot. The amount of musical options available makes it a whirlwind experience. If you plan to meet up with anyone there, best to arrange for text messaging in advance. I did meet Chuck Nessa and his wife but missed connecting with the other two Organissimo attendees. Randy, if you can afford the VIP it's definitely worth it. As you said, the priority seating makes a BIG difference. There are also some bonuses like a Sunday Brunch and some other goodies. We'll have to make another attempt to meet up - Nessa, too! Quote
Steve Reynolds Posted December 20, 2018 Report Posted December 20, 2018 Thrilled that The Schlippenbach Trio is Playing @ Roulette in Brooklyn on Monday 3/25/19. First time I’ll be seeing the great pianist since 2003. Would love it Paul Lovens could have travelled but Paul Lytton is just a different kind of great. Quote
clifford_thornton Posted December 20, 2018 Report Posted December 20, 2018 2 hours ago, Steve Reynolds said: Thrilled that The Schlippenbach Trio is Playing @ Roulette in Brooklyn on Monday 3/25/19. First time I’ll be seeing the great pianist since 2003. Would love it Paul Lovens could have travelled but Paul Lytton is just a different kind of great. oh, wonderful! I don't think I've seen him since around that time either. Quote
issho Posted January 4, 2019 Report Posted January 4, 2019 I'm planning on going to Big Ears for the first time this year. I'm just attending Saturday and Sunday. I am going to buy a Saturday Premier pass and a Sunday General Admission pass because there are more must-sees for me on Saturday and I am guessing that Sunday may be less packed. Is this a good strategy? Quote
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