Big Ears Guide • Ashley Capps interview • Madame Weezy’s Big Ears Horoscopes
Practical recommendations from BLANK’s resident soothsayer – Big Ears Edition
The Big Ears Festival will be returning in just a couple weeks, bringing its boundless brand of art to our unassuming city. I purposely didn’t use the word “scruffy” to describe it, as Knoxville definitely has evolved since year one. It’s almost as if the mere presence of the festival itself has given the city permission to proudly fly its freak flag. Though perhaps not every act that will grace a stage over those four spring days will be for the masses, there undoubtedly will be something for everyone to enjoy. Here’s a little help with finding your niche – based on the zodiac, of course.
Aquarius: Water bearers are just on another level. They’re incredibly intelligent, creative and can produce truly profound pieces of art that touch upon the most intimate and raw aspects of human existence. Their sense of right and wrong is rigid, and they often feel no pull to compromise when it comes to injustice. While this at times can come across as aloof or stubborn, it also can be refreshing to experience this level of conviction, and the treat is that the art they produce as a result is breathtaking, as well. Adeem the Artist will push all the right buttons for Aquarians. The combination of their passionate lyrics, unapologetic demeanor and relatable voice will make for a can’t-miss performance.
Pisces: Fish are a chill, go-with-the-flow, good-time type of folk. They enjoy the quirky, but not in a way that’s grating or jarring. (They also prefer to have a chair, so you’ll likely not see them at many shows at The Standard.) A great spot for them to have a good time and hear something that is unique but won’t require an obnoxious amount of work is Western/indie/Americana/jazz/rock/folk duo Calexico. These two fellas mesh a myriad of sounds into something that is artful while still remaining accessible. They’ll be set up in the Civic Auditorium. The bad news is it’s a bit of a haul from some of the other venues, but the good news is that there are plenty of comfy seats. And if you have no interest in walking, you can catch the trolley or Kiss Caboose to the venue.
Aries: Rams aren’t subtle, so those sparse, ambient drones sprinkled among the festival footprint will likely drive them nuts. What would they like? Performances that are intense, driving, kinesthetic and powerful are really more their speed, and better still if the band has purpose beyond the music itself. Algiers will deliver in this regard, and in a big way, too. Their music is multifaceted, engaging and at times downright danceable (or moshable for those with great insurance), the lyrics are a direct call to action and the energy is turned all the way up at all times. The typical Aries is likely to leave this show sweaty, pumped up and ready to go into battle against injustice. And while they shouldn’t need to be told this, the bar not carrying their favorite brand of whiskey is NOT an injustice.
Taurus: Such a grounded sign may seem to struggle at a festival built around the experimental. While it’s true that bulls may not relish the most abstract sets (they’ll whine, in fact), their patience and persistence allow them to enjoy acts that are plenty unconventional without being completely out of reach. Iron & Wine is the perfect show for these people, as Sam Beam flirts with off-center material, especially lyrically speaking, without straying completely off the path of a traditional folkie. His sound is familiar and comforting while still challenging listeners with a nuanced rather than in-your-face approach. As Taurans also prefer to sit during, they, too, will be grateful for the ample seating at the Civic Auditorium.
Gemini: This festival is made for those born under this sign! Just like the twins, this festival celebrates imagination, creativity, diversity and experimentation. It keeps you on your toes and offers enough stimulation to entertain the twitchiest of personalities. It only makes sense that the sibs would be enthralled with Ibeyi, musically gifted and visually stunning twin sisters from France. With their funky, danceable brand of music that’s parts R&B, indie and electronic with a hint of worldbeat, you’ll experience sounds in a way that individually are familiar but when heard together are like something new entirely. These effortlessly cool ladies are what pop stars wish they could be, and they’re in the perfect spot (Mill & Mine) to bust a move to, as well.
Cancer: Out of all the creatures in the zodiac, these folks are hands down the most sensitive. They feel everything so deeply, and that goes double for creative endeavors. Though they’ll likely be heard sobbing gently into the Bijou’s velour upholstery at least once during the show, Allison Russell will be a hands-down favorite for all the crabs in the house. With her sultry voice, honest delivery and exquisite lyrics, the Our Native Daughters member creates a welcoming vibe with her special mix of folk and soul. The music is incredibly personal, like talking to a friend late into the night, swapping stories and being your best, most vulnerable self. In a time that can be much too much, this show will offer the perfect release.
Leo: Big Ears has a reputation among some outsiders as being pensive and serious with a tinge of condescension. While personification of those adjectives can be spotted here and there, anyone who’s actually attended the festival knows it’s really no different than any other gathering, creative or otherwise. Lions are joyful balls of sunshine who love a great party, and they’ll certainly get one with New Orleans-based Tank and the Bangas on Friday night. Knoxville has been lucky enough to see this raucous group raise a room, one gyration at a time, to the rafters on multiple occasions previously, and we wouldn’t expect any less this time around. Just like Leos, they’re fun and playful, and it’s a blast to watch them do their groove thing. Not to say the group’s material isn’t thought-provoking or creative – because it most certainly is – but it is expressed as a celebration instead of a lecture. Extra points for the Mill & Mine having some bangin’ liquid refreshment to fuel all the booty-shakin’.
Virgo: Virgins aren’t exactly the biggest risk takers, so a festival full of the experimental might make them feel uneasy at first. This doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time, but acts that are a bit more high profile might be more likely to allow them to unclench and unwind. They like to get moving, as well, so even better is something to which they can dance. Though Los Lobos as a creative entity is miles beyond ghost-singing for the still dapper Lou Diamond Phillips, the group will provide a name that’s recognizable enough to soundtrack for the virgin to shimmy and act a respectable fool. Not all Virgos may completely appreciate the mind-blowing talent this legendary band possesses, but most should at least be able to respect the performance.
Libra: Libras are beautiful, refined beings, but they possess a bit of an edge. They appreciate the bright, the flowy and the creative. They also can be a bit flaky and have a godawful attention span, so the best show for them is one in which the artist bounces between or even blends genres before the scales feel compelled to move on to the next shiny object. Shara Nova aka My Brightest Diamond checks all the boxes. Her shows are both visually stunning and musically entrancing. Her perfectly balanced blend of indie, pop, folk, classical and rock hits all the right notes without dwelling on either element for too long.
Scorpio: Scorpions are going to find a substantial menu of enigmatic acts to feast upon throughout the festival. Perhaps, though, none captures the hypnotic and mysterious nature of these souls quite like Grouper, the solo endeavor of minimalist musician Liz Harris. Just like Scorpios, her music often builds from sparse soundscapes to a brooding intensity that completely entrances the listener. Dark and complex, the audience has to put some work in to fully appreciate the art, so she’s essentially a musical version of this sign’s personality. You’ll easily be able to spot a fellow Scorpio at this show by their stoic and seemingly unaffected exterior body language, which can be a bit irritating to the others in attendance who allow themselves to acknowledge that they feel feelings. But rest assured, there’s a fiery passion ignited on the inside.
Sagittarius: There are some folks whose spirits are just so charmingly wild and quirky that it’s difficult to imagine them ever having a so-called “normal” existence. They have no rules other than the one that stipulates that they must enjoy the time they have on this earth. For that reason, centuars are likely to relish in the free-spirited, cheery sounds of alt-country darling Sierra Ferrell. This lady seasons her brand of traditional tunage with healthy helpings of jazz, soul and even a zesty sprinkling from south of the border. This is a recipe for a flirty and fun sound that is delightfully refreshing and unique. Sagittarians are a bit on the twitchy side, so this show will also get them moving enough to get those wiggles out – a bonus for the rest of us trying to keep up.
Capricorn: Even when it comes to creative endeavors, these old goats value discipline and tenacity above all else. Now, I’m not suggesting they see the musical equivalent of a pivot table (which, let’s be honest, they’d love), but it does make sense their favorite show will lean towards one in which meticulous attention to detail is evident. Harvard professor and composer Vijay Iyer creates such an experience with classical and jazz masterpieces that expertly merge math and technology with the art of music. The intellectual pursuits of Dr. Iyer, focusing on music cognition, make for a uniquely cerebral sound that will be especially appreciated by those who are both practical and passionate, descriptors that fit Capricorn to a tee.
weezy@blanknews.com
