Lou Reed DRONES / Laraaji Laughter & Radiance / The Horizon / Live Tremors / Blue Note
Lou Reed Drones
From the minute we started contemplating the acoustics of The Greyhound, we were thinking of Lou Reed Drones. Created by the placement of guitars from Reed’s collection, arranged against a group of amplifiers so that their tuned feedback creates an enveloping drone of ever-shifting and changing harmonics, brought to life by Reed’s guitar tech, Stewart Hurwood. Guest musicians, invited by Laurie Anderson, join and collaborate with the drones in what becomes a mysterious, transcendent, and magical experience. The Drones will occupy the closing Sunday afternoon, March 29, of Big Ears 2026.
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Laraaji: Days of Laughter and Radiance
We’re thrilled to share that Laraaji will return to Big Ears this year, once again offering his much-loved-and-appreciated Laughter Best Medicine Play Shop, a solo MOON piano performance, and a very special Ambient 3: Day of Radiance concert, drawing from his transcendent 1980 collaboration with Brian Eno. Something we all need now more than ever.
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SUSS / Bob Holmes / Across the Horizon Podcast
Bob Holmes (of SUSS) hosts this special podcast featuring the artists at this year’s Across the Horizon Showcase at Big Ears 2026. Pulled from interviews Bob has had over the last few years, the show features the music and artists who will be performing at this event, including Pan-American, Chuck Johnson, Hayden Pedigo, Gwenifer Raymond, Ken Pomeroy, Dave Harrington, Luke Schneider, Walt McClements, and SUSS.
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Essential Tremors Live at Big Ears 2026
Once again, the Essential Tremors Podcast, hosted by Lee Gardner and Matthew Byars, returns to Big Ears, hosting live conversations with artists about the music that shaped them. This year, there will be four episodes, with turntablist Maria Chavez; multi-instrumentalist and prolific collaborator Shahzad Ismaily (in a special program hosted by Fred Frith); master percussionist Joe Westerlund; and drummer Tom Skinner (Sons of Kemet, The Smile).
In addition, Essential Tremors will host a special edition of their Selector Series for early festival arrivals — on Wednesday, March 25, at the Pilot Light — with Mark Nelson (Pan American / LaBradford).
Wednesday, March 25
- 7:00pm — Selector Series at Pilot Light w/ Mark Nelson
Thursday–Sunday at Regas Square
- 2:00pm Thu 3/26 — Maria Chavez
- 10:00am Fri 3/27 — Shahzad Ismaily
- 10:00am Sat 3/28 — Joe Westerlund
- 10:00am Sun 3/29 — Tom Skinner
Blue Note Lounge Returns
Blue Note Lounge returns to Big Ears at the Jackson Terminal. All weekend long, stop in for conversations with artists, live performances, DJ sets, and more than a few surprises — all woven together with music and selections from one of the most storied catalogs in the history of recorded music. Peruse and take home records from one of music’s most legendary labels, catch your breath between sets, go deep into something familiar, or stumble onto something completely new. The kind of place where you wander in for a few minutes and stay for hours.
