The National, Dirty Projectors, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Iva Bittova, Ben Frost, Tim Hecker, Tracy Silverman, and Buke & Gassjoin expanding lineup for second Big Ears Festival March 26-28 in Knoxville, TNThey join an already extraordinary array of artists playing the second incarnation of the festival. Vampire Weekend, the Calder Quartet, 802 Tour (Nico Muhly / Doveman / Sam Amidon with Nadia Sirota), Joanna Newsom, St. Vincent, Andrew WK, The Ex, Gang Gang Dance, Clogs, The xx , Javelin, DJ/rupture (solo), DJ/rupture and Andy Moor, My Brightest Diamond, Gyan Riley, and jj were announced in early December.
Big Ears 2010 will also be celebrating the 75th birthday year of the legendary American minimalist composer, Terry Riley. Riley is "Artist in Residence" at the festival and will be performing several concerts during the weekend. The National's Bryce Dessner is co-curating the weekend, with a number of surprise collaborations and presentations being planned.
The National - With the much anticipated release of the follow up to their highly acclaimed record, Boxer, due this spring, the National will present their first performance of 2010 at Big Ears, debuting material from the new record and more.
Dirty Projectors - With one of the most acclaimed records of 2009, the dazzling Bitte Orca, the Dirty Projectors became renowned for their virtuosic live performances, ecstatic critical reviews and inventive collaborations with Bjork and David Byrne.
Bang on a Can All-Stars - This celebrated "classical" ensemble is really one part rock band, one part amplified chamber group. The Bang on a Can All-Stars will form the nucleus of an all-star performance of Terry Riley's legendary piece, In C, joined by a number of special guests. Bang on a Can All-Stars will also perform Brian Eno's celebrated Music for Airports at Big Ears and present a number of other works at the festival.
Tim Hecker - The music of this Canadian electronic artist (also known as Jetone) is described by the New York Times as, "foreboding, abstract pieces in which static and sub-bass rumbles open up around slow moving notes and chords, like fissures in the earth waiting to swallow them whole."
Ben Frost - Icelandic experimental composer and colleague of the 802 tour, Big Ears will mark his first US performance since the release of, By the Throat, which received a rave review on Pitchfork last week. "This is Arvo Part as arranged by Trent Reznor." - Wire Magazine
Buke & Gass - Described as a "'two-man (wall of sound) band'- although one of them is a woman." (the Deli Magazine). Buke & Gass play bass, guitar, ukulele, kick drum, snare tambourine and sleigh bells... while singing at the same time.
Tracy Silverman - The "greatest living exponent of the electric violin" (BBC), Tracy Silverman has performed with a virtual "who's who" of both the classical and pop music world. He will be performing at Big Ears in one of Terry Riley's groups.
Iva Bittovα - The virtuoso violinist and singer from Czechoslovakia is an amazing performer who moves freely through the worlds of classical music and improvisation. "Iva Bittovα is an extraordinary artist. Raw and refined, passionate and contained, she has the soul of a gypsy, the voice of a troubadour, and the mind of a genius." NPR/All Things Considered
BIG EARS will consist of over 50 performances by over 30 artists during the weekend. There will also be art exhibitions, installations, film screenings, workshops, interactive experiences, lectures and discussions.
The initial allotment of weekend festival passes, the 'Inner Ear' pass, sold out in early January. Remaining Inner Ear Weekend Festival Passes are available now through www.bigearsfestival.com or by calling 865.684.1200 ext. 2 between the hours of 10:00am and 5:00pm eastern. The Big Ears schedule of events will be announced in late January. Tickets for individual concerts and events during the weekend will go on sale at that time.
