I know it’s been a while since I wrote anything here; had to step back for a bit. I can’t think of a better way to step back in than writing about this year’s Big Ears festival that just wrapped up yesterday.
Francisco Turrisi. Herbie Hancock. John Paul Jones. Rhiannon Giddens and the Silk Road Ensemble. Joe Henry. Tomeka Reid. Jon Batiste. Andre 3000. And so many more. What an amazing weekend of music, poetry, art, and all the other facets of the best thing that Knoxville does, and the variety and quality remains world-class year after year. I probably missed three artists for every one I saw and still was treated to some of the finest music around.
And there’s the unexpected, a part of Big Ears I’ve grown to enjoy as much as the planned itinerary. On Friday afternoon I was walking down Gay Street on my way to see John Paul Jones at the Tennessee and struck up a conversation with someone headed in the same direction. He said he was a musician and, when I asked him what instrument he played, he said, “A few years back I started a band called Sonic Youth.” Thurston Moore was as pleasant and accessible as any of the other new folks I met; he just happens to be a world famous musician, and fortunately, even though I’m entering my seventies I recognized the name of the band.
In addition to the big names that come to play, I am always fortunate enough to be introduced to artists I didn’t even know existed. Last year one of them was Allison Russell. This year I was on the front row at the Performing Arts Center and Aja Monet just blew me away. This young poet held the audience spellbound for a full hour. It was beautiful.
If you’ve never been to Big Ears I encourage you to come join us for a magical weekend. If you have been, you know exactly what I’m talking about.