Big Ears Festival Unveils Star-Studded 2027 Lineup With Over 250 Acts
The Knoxville festival has announced its 2027 edition, scheduled for April 1-4, with headliners including Jeff Tweedy, Robert Glasper, Weyes Blood, Oneohtrix Point Never, and the supergroup Dinner Party. The lineup also features Thundercat, Courtney Barnett, Sylvan Esso, and a 12-hour Indian classical music set, among many others. Big Ears continues its tradition of emphasizing 'Deep Listening' and curated, meditative musical experiences across two dozen venues.
The festival's 14th edition continues its signature "Deep Listening" philosophy, a concept developed by pioneering electronic composer Pauline Oliveros. A 2019 Pitchfork column credited Big Ears with helping shift festival culture toward more thoughtfully curated, meditative programming rather than purely stacked lineups, a trend that has since spread across the wider festival landscape.
Beyond the headline names, the bill includes notable special presentations: an orchestral rendition of David Bowie's Blackstar and a marathon 12-hour Indian classical music performance. The roster spans jazz, indie rock, electronic, and folk, with acts like Norah Jones, Mount Eerie, Meat Puppets, and Midori Takada filling out the schedule across roughly two dozen downtown Knoxville venues.
The festival's continued expansion—now exceeding 250 performances—could reinforce Knoxville's standing as a destination for adventurous music audiences. By championing "Deep Listening" and meditative programming, Big Ears may influence how other festivals approach curation, potentially broadening public appreciation for experimental and classical traditions. The event's economic impact on downtown Knoxville could also grow, though its cultural influence likely extends further through the artists and audiences it convenes annually.