Big Ears Festival will return April 1-4 to downtown Knoxville with one of its most ambitious lineups ever, continuing to push boundaries without losing sight of founder Ashley Capps' original vision: creating space in a noisy world to stop and listen together.
The 2027 lineup, announced Sept. 14, pairs some of the world's most acclaimed singer-songwriters, from Jeff Tweedy to Natalie Merchant, with other pioneers including Kronos Quartet, Oneohtrix Point Never, Robert Glasper and Thundercat.
They'll share stages in downtown churches, clubs, theaters and repurposed industrial buildings with other notable acts, including comedian Hannibal Buress, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James and Australian indie rocker Courtney Barnett. Other highlights
include Bob James, Mavis Staples, Melvins, Rosanne Cash, Sylvan Esso, Wednesday and Weyes Blood.
More than 250 performances are planned alongside films, artist conversations, workshops, exhibitions and interactive experiences, making for what the festival is calling "an irresistible, kaleidoscopic feast for the ears"
Big Ears, Capps told attendees while kicking off the 2026 festival, "is an extraordinary opportunity in a time where, increasingly, listening to music seems to be an isolated endeavor outside of gatherings like this."
Capps is a Knoxville native and longtime concert promoter whose AC Entertainment co-founded the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and other notable music gatherings throughout the Southeast.
Since finalizing a sale of AC Entertainment to Live Nation in 2020, Capps has put most of his energy behind Big Ears and continuing the nonprofit festival's mission "to collaborate with artists, audiences, and communities to create joyful, meaningful and transcendent cultural experiences that defy boundaries, fuel curiosity, ignite the spirit, and nourish the soul."
The festival is continuing its trend of add-on performances in 2027 with separately ticketed shows for Norah Jones and Nathaniel Rateliff, as well as for a performance of the Grateful Dead's "Acoustic Reckoning" by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.
Evan Ziporyn and Maya Beiser, joined by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, will reimagine David Bowie's final work, "Blackstar," while Melvin Gibbs will lead a festivalwide curation inspired by his 2026 book, "How Black Music Took Over the World."
"Bang on a Can Celebrates 40 Years" and "William Parker's 75th Birthday Celebration" will feature multiple performances, while Bill Frisell, Ragamala, Valentina Magaletti and Vijay Iyer will take part in multi-concert residencies.
Big Ears Festival 2027 lineup reactions: What not to miss
Big Ears veterans and Knox News journalists Hayden Dunbar Evans and Ryan Wilusz dug through the 2027 lineup to highlight the performances, collaborations and surprises they're most excited to see.
Hayden Dunbar Evans:
- I’ve been going through somewhat of a Natalie Merchant phase that started at the end of 2024, so I was beyond excited to find her name appeared on the lineup. My fascination with her was only compounded when I learned my childhood cat Natalie was in fact named for the prolific, wildly-talented artist I’d had on repeat the last couple of months. I’m a sucker for some late ‘90s/early 2000s nostalgia, and that’s exactly what her music conjures for me. I might be taking this too far, but I’ll add that I find it beyond “Kind & Generous” of her to grace us at next year’s festival.
- It should come as no surprise, then, that I’m also thrilled to see Norah Jones making an appearance on this list. When I got my first iPod, which marked the start of my musical independence, I was doing a lot of wistful thinking to her 2002 album, “Come Away With Me.” I believe I was all of about eight. Her 2004 duet with Dolly Parton, “Creepin’ In,” has been big for me recently, both before and after the death of our beloved "Queen of Country Music."
- Other artists I’m excited to see include Mon Rovîa, who I found out about around the time his 2023 song “Big Love Ahead” went viral. He’s an arresting vocalist, and his pared-back music has a comforting quality. I’m also very much on the Wednesday train, and Thundercat is sure to be a blast.
- You can also put me down for Courtney Barnett, who has been a steady force in the indie rock scene for the past decade. I could go on, as Big Ears 2027 is shaping up to be another knockout festival. Between now and April, you can find me on the edge of my seat, headphones on.
Ryan Wilusz:
- My Morning Jacket's performance at Bonnaroo 2011 remains the most transformative concert I've ever seen. I went in knowing almost nothing about the band, left an immediate fan and have followed Jim James' work in all its forms ever since. He's a rare talent whose voice can captivate a field full of festivalgoers as easily as a theater packed with devoted listeners.
- Wilco's run at the Bijou Theatre in 2022 marked the band's first live performances in five years and remains one of my all-time favorite concert experiences. The band ripped through 50 unique songs across two nights, a reminder of just how much material Jeff Tweedy has written over the years. I have long admired Tweedy's view of songwriting as a daily practice rather than something that requires divine inspiration. The result is a rawness and vulnerability that should feel especially powerful in the intimate settings that make Big Ears unique.
- The Oneohtrix Point Never set from Big Ears 2023 remains the most sonically stimulating and visually arresting performance I've experienced in six years attending the festival, and I can't wait to see what the electronic pioneer and film composer brings to Knoxville next.
- As a Tar Heel born and bred, I'm excited to see Nick Sanborn return to Knoxville with Durham-based Sylvan Esso after filling The Standard with bass, sweat and infectious energy in 2026. The same goes for SML, whose blend of jazz, electronic music and improvisation makes them a perfect fit for the festival and well worth the rebooking.
- Hannibal Burress will bring the laughs, Mavis Staples will bring the soul and don't sleep on Finom. What's not to love?
Big Ears Festival ticket information: When do passes go on sale?
Big Ears passes go on sale beginning Sept. 14 with a donor presale, followed by a presale for previous passholders Sept. 15 and a public sale Sept. 16.
- General admission: Four-day general admission passes start at $450 during the Early Bird tier, according to the festival's website, and increase to $500 and $550 as subsequent pricing waves sell out.
- Premium options: Four-day Premier passes cost $875, while VIP Sonic Explorer passes, which include reserved seating and additional perks, cost $1,475.
- Single-day passes: Single-day passes range from $135 for Thursday general admission to $275 for a Saturday Premier pass.
- Separately ticketed shows: Tickets will go on sale later this fall for Norah Jones and Nathaniel Rateliff, as well as for the "Acoustic Reckoning" performance by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Big Ears passholders will receive presale access and preferred pricing.
- Other options: A film-only pass is available for $50.
Explore the full lineup for Big Ears Festival 2027
@ • Adam O'Farrill's ELEPHANT • Adrian Sherwood • Amina Claudine Myers • Ana Roxanne • Andy Stott • Ava Mendoza and Hamid Drake • Avey Tare • Avishai Cohen - Big Vicious • Bang On A Can - Celebrates 40 Years • Beauty Pill • Bedouine • The Big Star Quintet • Bill Frisell Residency • Bob James • Brad Mehldau Trio • Bronwyn • Carla dal Forno • Case Oats • Charlotte Mundy • Che Apalache • Chicha Libre • Chris Potter "Alive With Ghosts Today" • Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet • Cornelius • Courtney Barnett • Craig Taborn Trio • Dagmar Zuniga • Daniel Lanois • Dave Harrington, Jay Bellerose & Billy Mohler • David Murray Quartet • Dawn of Midi • Diles Que No Me Maten • Dinner Party (Robert Glasper / Terrace Martin / Kamasi Washington/9th Wonder) • Dirty Projectors (solo) • Discovery Zone • Efrim Manuel Menuck and Tashi Dorji Present BLOOM AND RUIN • El Khat • Ettore Buzzini • Fabiano do Nascimento • Finom • Gillian Welch & David Rawlings play Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning • goat (jp) • Gustavo Santaolalla • The Hands Free • Hannibal Buress • Helado Tropical • Helen • Hemphill Stringtet with Ursula Oppens • Horse Lords • How Black Music Took Over the World: A Melvin Gibbs Curation • HYUKOH • Ida • Ingrid Laubrock's Grammy Season + DoYeon Kim • Jakob Bro / Joe Lovano / Midori Takada • James Brandon Lewis Quartet • James Elkington and Nathan Salsburg • Jasper Llewellyn • JD Pinkus Triptych • Jeff Parker ETA IVtet • Jeff Tweedy • Jeremiah Chiu • Jessica Pavone String Ensemble • Jim James • Jim White Trio • Joan Shelley • Joanne Robertson • John Carroll Kirby • Josh Johnson ANIMATIVE • Judith Berkson Trio • Kahil ElZabar & David Murray • Kaki King • Kali Malone Presents Burning Song • Kalia Vandever & Dave Harrington • Kalia Vandever Quartet • Karen Y Los Remedios • Karly Hartzman • KatzPascale • Ken Vandermark • Kevin Morby • Kronos Quartet with Peni Candra Rini • L'Rain • Leenalchi • Lia Kohl • Liam Kazar • Linda May Han Oh • Lovano / Makhathini / Morgan / Cyrille • Lucy Railton • Luke Schneider Curation: Chrome Universal - Modern Pedal Steel Guitar • Magic Tuber Stringband • MANAS • Manu Delago & Max ZT • Marcus Gilmore • Marina Herlop • Marisa Anderson • Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble • Matthew Shipp • Mavis Staples • Maya Beiser & Evan Ziporyn: Bowie Cello Symphonic • Meat Puppets • Melvins • Mexican Institute of Sound • Midori Takada • Min Xiao-Fen & Julian Kytasty • Mon Rovîa • Moor Mother • Mount Eerie • Mouse on Mars • My New Band Believe • Nadia Sirota • Natalie Merchant with Erik Della Penna • Nathaniel Rateliff • Nduduzo Makhathini • Nels Cline • Nicole Mitchell and Joe Westerlund • Nirosta Steel • NOMON • Norah Jones • One Leg One Eye • Oneohtrix Point Never • Oruã • Otto Benson • Pachyman • Pamela Z • Parker Ramsay & Miranda Cuckson • Penguin Cafe • Petra Haden Sings King Crimson • Pranksters South • Ragamala returns! 12 Hours of Ragas • Ranky Tanky • Robert Glasper • Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal • Ryan Clackner Quartet • Ryan Clackner's Existential Dread • Ryley Walker • Salami Rose Joe Louis • Sara Serpa • Shardik • Sheila Kay Adams + Nest of Singing Birds • Sierra Hull • Sleaford Mods • SML • Star Moles • Sumie Kaneko • Suzanne Ciani • Sylvan Esso • Sylvie Courvoisier TRIO feat. Drew Gress & Kenny Wollesen • This Is the Kit • Thundercat • Tim Bernardes • Tomeka Reid • Trio of Bloom (Nels Cline / Marcus Gilmore / Craig Taborn) • Tristan Perich • Tyondai Braxton • U.S. Girls • Ursula Oppens • Valentina Magaletti • Valerie June • Vanishing Twin • VariegOrchestra • Vieux Farka Touré & Roberto Fonseca • Vijay Iyer Residency • Visible Cloaks • Wednesday • Weyes Blood • Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, Macie Stewart • William Parker 75th Birthday Residency • The Womack Sisters • Wyatt Ellis • Yasuaki Shimizu • Yeah NO • Yilian Cañizares • Zig Zag Trio (Will Calhoun, Melvin Gibbs, Vernon Reid)
Ryan Wilusz, business growth and development editor for Knox News, covered his sixth Big Ears Festival in 2026. Hayden Dunbar is the storyteller reporter, and 2026 was her second year covering the festival. Reach them via email and follow them on Instagram: ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com (@KnoxScruff) and hayden.dunbar@knoxnews.com (@KnoxStoryteller).
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Big Ears Festival shares 2027 lineup with Norah Jones, Thundercat and more
