By Jennifer Duncan-Rankin, John Flannagan, Rusty Odom and Matt Rankin
Festivals take a lot of work.
There are the obvious denizens of functionality running about with radios strapped to their shoulders, but there are dozens of people working around the clock behind the scenes.
Without both of these groups of people, events like Big Ears don’t happen.
That’s why it was so rewarding to see someone like Tom Bugg, the longtime maestro of the Historic Tennessee Theatre, enjoy Los Lobos in his home venue. Word on the street is that the Los Angeles rock legends are one of Bugg’s favorites. To see him smile while taking it all in was special.
Then there’s Audrey Needham, an artist-transportation specialist, who even after her previous ride had an issue with luggage at the airport, got to catch the tail end of her favorite new artist, Allison Russell, at the Bijou before getting right back to it.
These festivals take a lot of work, but it’s all worth it when the artists hit the stage and the shared love of music takes over. And it’s not just for the fans in attendance but all the humans within earshot. Knoxville is lucky to possess this festival and we hope it lasts another ten years (at least). Here are some of our favorites from opening day. – Rusty Odom
Allison Russell
What a superb choice to start off Big Ears weekend, as Montreal-born Allison Russell is a downright delight! A beautiful ray of sunshine, she displays grace, heart, empathy and tolerance, but, by golly, the woman has grit, too. With her uber-talented, all-female band, Russell traipsed and swayed though tracks from her 2021 album “Outside Child,” as well as a couple from the forthcoming “The Return.” Some songs were truly folk, some had a country twang and others were straight-up soul. If you’re looking for an artist with a lot of range, Russell is quite the contender.
With a strong but unmistakably feminine voice and often wielding a clarinet, the artist was well-equipped to tell stories of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Though quite serious overall, her banter also was quite humorous at times, as she realizes the platform she has can be used to elicit the societal change we need – especially, as she touched upon, in the wake of the recent school shooting in neighboring Nashville, her current home.
Russell spoke of our beloved Highlander Center, as well, and its work to, in her words, inspire at “the intersection of art, activism, community and responsibility.” Her delivery of this message wasn’t preachy, though; she instead focused on how we’re all connected and can support each other and build each other up. It was a wonderful communication with which to begin the Big Ears weekend. – Jennifer Duncan-Rankin
Kevin Abernathy & Friends
Although it’s not an official Big Ears event, it’s become an annual tradition to start the festival by taking in “The Six O’clock Swerve” hosted by frequent BLANK contributor Wayne Bledsoe. And though he has nabbed artists from the lineup in the past, this year’s show featured Kevin Abernathy with Barry “Po” Hannah and Mick Murphy in what was a delightful one-hour set at Barley’s.
As Bledsoe had mentioned to me earlier in the week, “Kevin is one of the most gifted songwriters in the country and deserves the platform to showcase his talents during Big Ears.” A champion of local artists, the host chose wisely, and it was beautiful to see an East Tennessee legend get his due in front of a contingent that included both Knoxville denizens and out-of-towners. I had planned to stay for only half of the show, but I managed to get swept up by it and stayed for its entirety. It was well worth it, though. Knoxville is a better place for having people like Abernathy and Bledsoe in it, and I’ll continue to make this Thursday staple a yearly tradition. – John Flannagan
Terry Allen and the Panhandle Mystery Band
Lubbock, Texas, was all over everything in the Tennessee Theatre on Thursday evening. Terry Allen was able to make it to his first Big Ears this year after being unable to perform in 2022. It was worth the wait. He ran through a catalogue of thoughtful songs and even went over a few minutes (this was a surprisingly lovely theme for most shows on Thursday evening). The subject matter flowed from provocative to hilarious to soul-examining, sometimes within the course of just one piece. There was a buzz in the crowd throughout the performance because a one David Byrne was spotted in the house. Big Ears is a festival full of collaborations, and sure enough, Byrne joined Allen and band for a delightful version of Byrne’s “Buck Naked” to close the show. – RO
Adeem the Artist
For those of us locals who have watched Adeem grow both as a musician and as a person over the years, it’s hard not to feel a little bit of pride in seeing them on such an exulted stage. They revealed at this show they were just invited to play the Grand Ole Opry – a far cry from their days of gigging as Captain Redbeard at the South Knox Cancun or NoKno’s Señor Taco. Adeem is finally able to show off their real talent as a songwriter, and they are charming, passionate and absolutely hilarious in a live context.
Adeem made room in the first part of the show to get the sillies out with songs such as “I Wish You Would’ve Been a Cowboy” and personal favorite “Born in a Weigel’s“ before moving on to more personal and heartbreaking songs chronicling the struggle with an especially abusive brand of religion and the continuous battle of freely expressing their gender and sexuality.
Adeem isn’t known for keeping quiet in the face of injustice, and this show was no different in that regard. Between the state’s crusade against the transgender community and its refusal to deal with gun violence in our schools, they made sure to express their frustration, along with a plea for actual change. They aren’t afraid to hold people accountable for being complicit in the harm of others, which might be a difficult reality for some to hear, but they are simply expressing how they feel – exactly what you would expect to receive from a true artist. – JDR
King Britt presents Moksha Black
King Britt performed a non-traditional DJ set that was atmospheric and thought-provoking. The former turntablist for the Digable Planets, he uses the term “Blacktronika” to describe his distinctive sound, and he teaches a course of the same name at the University of California San Diego. Class was in session at The Standard Thursday evening, as Britt was joined onstage by Seth Parker Woods on cello and Joy Guidry on bassoon and vocal effects. The latter played an array of electronic instruments, as well, layering sounds and harmonies over Britt’s samples and pulsating beats. In the first jaw-dropping moment of this year’s festival, the DJ brought out drummer Tyshawn Sorey, who infused the set with improvised jazz percussion. It’s the kind of collaboration that happens only at Big Ears. – JF
The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats have been around for decades at this point and have a vast discography from which to draw. This set put this fact on full display, and the band sounded very clean and professional on the evening – very much like you were listening to an album, save for the occasional witty quips between songs. Categorized mainly in the Americana/indie vein, the show they put on at the Mill & Mine was far funkier than expected and even downright punk-rocky in some parts. As it’ll be hitting the road with Knoxville’s Adeem the Artist, it deserves mention that this band is worth seeing again and again. – JDR
Los Lobos
Although “pleasant” is far too plain of an adjective to use to describe a performance of such depth, it was the first word to spring to mind when recalling last night’s show at the Tennessee Theatre. It doesn’t quite convey how the tunes felt as though they were enveloping you with a warm blanket fresh from the dryer, either, but Los Lobos – now an institution of 50 years – exuded genuine camaraderie and warmth, both of which heightened the impact of the genre-bending music. The set touched on all aspects of the band’s repertoire, as its members glided seamlessly from track to track with an ease borne of their vast experience playing together. Simultaneously professional, workmanlike, alluring and moving, it was a testament to the group’s longevity and skill level. – Matt Rankin
Vijay Iyer Trio
An immaculate testimonial for live jazz, the trio of Vijay Iyer (piano), Linda May Han Oh (upright bass) and Tyshawn Sorey (drums) channeled their individual dynamisms into a singular, taut focus, harnessing and wielding an improvised power greater than the sum of its conjurers. The knowledgeable patrons in attendance at the Bijou appreciated the effort and reciprocated the positive energy with shouts of encouragement and volleys of applause between movements. It was a furious yet intricate performance that required intense concentration from both the musicians and the audience, but it was a sacrifice that resulted in great rewards for all who were lucky enough to squeeze into the best listening room Knoxville has to offer. – MR
Larry and Joe
To say that I was intrigued when I first heard the term “Latingrass” to describe this act would be quite an understatement. I love bluegrass, and I love Latin music, but how in the world would one (or two) be able to merge the pair? The answer, as Larry & Joe posited at the Jig & Reel late Thursday, is: beautifully. The duo has a wonderful back-and-forth partnership, and their songs are very engaging. From originals such as “Nuevo South Train” to bluegrass classics like “Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Larry Bellorin and Joe Troop are able to take elements familiar to both genres – like the violin – and really make them shine as a new entity. The music is so welcoming and full of heart, and I can’t wait to see these two again soon. – JDR
Liturgy
Black metal is just part of a balanced diet when it comes to covering Big Ears. A festival goer can see Americana, experimental electronic, traditional rock and, in this case, screaming-loud metal in a four-block rotation. Liturgy ended the first night by pummeling the packed house at The Standard with relentless abandon, with Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix yelping and screeching over a frantic, attack-mode backbeat. It felt at times like my earplugs were melting into my ears, as the punishing music rattled my brain in the best way possible. The timings and rapid-fire percussion were an all-out assault on the senses, but I was all about it for every bit of it. – JF
Check back again tomorrow, Sunday and Monday for recaps of those days’ action.
