big ears 2018
I had the pleasure of attending Big Ears 2018 in Knoxville this past weekend. Simply put, it was an incredible four days of hearing sounds of all sorts with like-minded listeners, and an overall experience that exceeded all expectations. I'm sad it's over and can't wait to return next year.
Highlights included witnessing an unforgettable performance by Diamanda Galás, falling mesmerized for 40 minutes by Okkyung Lee's cello, and struggling to decipher the genius of Evan Parker.
The full list of performances I caught (not all in full):
Thursday
#1 International Contemporary Ensemble performs Anna Thorvaldsdottír
#2 Pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn
#3 Susanna
#4 Okkyung Lee
#5 Godspeed! You Black Emperor
#6 Kid Koala
Friday
#1 Ikue Mori
#2 Rocket Science [Evan Parker, Peter Evans, Sam Pluta & Craig Taborn]
#3 Algiers
#4 Milford Graves
#5 Áine O’Dwyer
#6 Ned Rothenberg
#7 Evan Parker [solo]
#8 The Black Twig Pickers
#9 Susanna feat. Giovanna Pessi, Frode Haltl, Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie Prince Billy
#10 Jon Gibson performs 'Visitations'
#11 GAS
Saturday
#1 Talk: Lauren Halo & Eli Keszler interviewed by Ben Ratliff
#2 Cyro Baptista & Banquet of the spirits
#3 Bang on a Can All-Stars Perform Julia Wolfe's 'Anthracite Fields’
#4 Milford Graves & Jason Moran
#5 Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda: The Ashram Experience
#6 Laurel Halo with Eli Keszler
#7 Diamanda Galás
#8 Rova Channeling Coltrane: Electric Ascension
Sunday
#1 Rostam
#2 Suuns
#3 Abigail Washburn & Wu Fei
#4 Julie Byrne
#5 Kieran Hebden & Mats Gustafsson
#6 BANGS [Jason Moran, Mary Halvorson & Ron Miles]
#7 Peter Evans Ensemble
#8 Bang on a Can All-Stars: 30 years
#9 Lightning Bolt