Big Ears Festival Reveals Wide-Ranging 2027 Lineup

Big Ears Festival has announced its 2027 roster featuring a lineup highlighted by Jeff Tweedy, Jim James, Thundercat, Wednesday, Norah Jones, Sleaford Mods, Meat Puppets, Melvins, and David Longstreth of Dirty Projectors performing solo.

Taking place April 1st through 4th, the event will feature more than 100 artists and 250 concerts at two dozen venues. Other performers include Mavis Staples, Sylvan Esso, U.S. Girls, Natalie Merchant with Erik Della Penna, Courtney Barnett, Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal, The Womack Sisters, and Kronos Quartet.

On the jazz front, some highlights include Brad Mehldau Trio, Daniel Lanois, and Bill Frisell. Electronic artists Oneohtrix Point Never, Mouse on Mars, and more will do sets. Hannibal Buress will also perform.

That just scratches the surface of musicians and artists appearing at Big Ears Festival. The festival also has some attractive special performances. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will play Grateful Dead’s Acoustic Reckoning. The Big Star Quintet with Jon Auer, Mike Mills, Pat Sansone, Chris Stamey, and Jody Stephens will play. Evan Ziporyn and Maya Beiser will perform David Bowie’s Blackstar with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Singer Petra Haden will do King Crimson songs a capella and with a choir.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, September 16th, at 9:00 a.m. ET on the festival’s website. Ticket holders from previous years of Big Ears Festival and festival donors will have access to an early pre-sale.

Also at the festival, bassist and scholar Melvin Gibbs will present a series of curated events related to his book How Black Music Took Over the World, including a performance by Grammy-winning South Carolina group Ranky Tanky.

In addition, films, artist conversations, workshops, exhibitions, and interactive experiences will take place across historic theaters, churches, rock clubs, museums, event spaces, converted warehouses, galleries, and other surprise locations within the very walkable footprint of Knoxville’s historic downtown, according to a press release.