MORE TALKS, PANELS, AND CONVOS / WANDERING SPIRIT SONGS
Big Ears 2025 On Track for Early Sell Out
The remaining 4-Day Weekend as well as Saturday Single-Day Passes will likely sell out in the next couple of weeks, with the other daily options close behind.
Don’t risk disappointment – secure your passes today!
And a huge Big Ears THANK YOU for the tremdenous response to this year’s festival.
We have an amazing weekend planned for all.
Cheers!
Schedule Announce Coming Soon
We’re working hard to finalize the 2025 festival schedule, fine-tuning every detail to create an unforgettable festival weekend. The wait won’t be much longer—we’ll be releasing the full, detailed schedule next week. Plus, we still have a few surprise announcements in store. Stay tuned and get ready to start planning!
More Talks, Panels, and Conversations
Big Ears is about more than just music—it’s a place for ideas, stories, and deep dives into the creative process. This year’s lineup of talks, panels, and conversations brings together visionary artists, thinkers, and innovators for illuminating discussions on music, art, and culture. Today, we continue sharing details about these exciting, not-to-be-missed programs. Stay tuned for more additions over the coming weeks!
Dawn Richard and Marcus J. Moore: Friday, March 28
Dawn Richard sits down with author and journalist Marcus J. Moore for a lively and insightful conversation about her ever-evolving career, creative vision, and boundary-pushing approach to music. Blurring the lines between R&B, electronic, and experimental sounds, Richard has built a career on defying expectations and forging her own path. Moore—known for his deep dives into Black music and culture—will lead the discussion, exploring her influences, artistry, and what’s next.
Explore Dawn Richard and Marcus J. Moore
Joe Boyd and Ann Powers: Sunday, March 30
As part of his weekend-long residency, legendary producer, author, and filmmaker Joe Boyd joins renowned music journalist Ann Powers for a conversation centered on his new book, And the Roots of Rhythm Remain. A deep dive into the global threads that have shaped popular music, Boyd’s latest work explores the cultural collisions and cross-pollinations that have defined generations of sound. With his firsthand experiences working with artists like Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and countless others, Boyd brings a wealth of insight to the discussion. Powers will guide the conversation, unpacking Boyd’s stories, discoveries, and the enduring impact of these musical connections.
Explore Joe Boyd and Ann Powers
Dust to Digital Presents:Terika Dean & Lance Ledbetter: Sunday, March 30
Lance Ledbetter, founder of the Grammy-winning archival label Dust-to-Digital and the preservation-focused Dust-to-Digital Foundation, joins Terika Dean, Chair of the Blues Foundation, great-great niece of Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, and the director of his estate, for a conversation about the art and importance of music presentation. Lance and his wife, April, have spent decades uncovering and preserving rare and historic recordings, breathing new life into forgotten sounds from around the world. Dean’s work focuses on keeping the blues and folk music traditions alive through the Lead Belly Estate. They will discuss the evolving role of archives in the digital age and why these recordings still resonate today.
Explore Lance Ledbetter and Terika Dean
Wandering Spirit Songs: A Big Ears Playlist
For this second playlist, we open with a deeply spiritual performance by the remarkable singer, ganavya, whose set with her trio this past January at Winter Jazzfest completely swept us away. Here she is joined by pianist Vijay Iyer and saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins. After joining Shabaka in his stunning performance at last year’s Big Ears, ganavya will return to perform with her own trio, as well as with Wilkins’ Blues Blood ensemble, joining Charles Lloyd and company in tribute to the late Zakir Hussain, and guesting with Carlos Niño and Friends.
Closing the playlist, guitarist Jeff Parker’s ETA IVtet – with saxophonist Josh Johnson, bassist Anna Butterss, and drummer Jay Bellerose – lures listener into a deep hypnotic groove.
In between, we chart only one of the infinite paths through a potential Big Ears experience, with the legendary Anoushka Shankar continuing to build upon her father’s legacy of cultural exploration; Meshell Ndegeocello celebrating the legacy of the great James Baldwin; master jazz drummer Barry Altschul’s 3 Dom Factor trio with saxophonist Jon Irabagon and bassist Joe Fonda; Danish composer / singer Astrid Sonne’s intimate sonic moods; an expansive instrumental from Nashville polymath Rich Ruth; LA’s irresistible groove machine SML – featuring Josh Johnson, Anna Butterss, synthesist Jeremiah Chiu, percussionist Booker Stardrum, and guitarist Gregory Uhlmann; the title track from composer / singer Julia Holter’s latest; and a beguiling instrumental from Alabaster DePlume.
We hope this captures your wandering Big Ears spirit as you start to plan your journey thought the festival weekend.
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