No pass? No problem! Free shows and events to check out during the 2025 Big Ears Festival
The Big Ears Festival is back for another year of great music, art and conversation in Knoxville. Although single-day passes have sold out, that doesn't mean you have to miss out.
You can still experience incredible performances, moving exhibitions and engaging discussions – for free!
From Grammy-winning musicians to intimate artist talks, these events offer a taste of Big Ears' eclectic programming without the cost of admission. And there's something for every music fan, whether you're into jazz, classical, bluegrass, electronic or gospel.
A full list of free Big Ears events is available at bigearsfestival.org, but here's a quick guide to a few of the free performances and exhibitions to check out during this year's festival.
ALL IN ONE PLACE! Our Big Ears guide ensures you won't miss a moment as Knoxville braces for festival weekend
The Grammy-winning trombonist and composer is known for her innovative approach to jazz, blending traditional elements with modern improvisation. Vandever has toured internationally with her quartet and has performed with popular artists, including Harry Styles, Lizzo, Japanese Breakfast, Jennifer Hudson and Demi Lovato. Her debut album 'We Fell in Turn' was released in 2023.
Time: 4 p.m.
Venue: Knoxville Museum of Art | 1050 Worlds Fair Park Drive
Yuka Honda, a founder of the band Cibo Matto, is an accomplished electronic instrumentalist, composer and producer. She is a prominent figure in New York City in avant-garde and indie rock scenes.
Honda is known as eucademix for her solo electronic projects. Her music spans genres, which she collectively calls 'sensory music.' And according to her Big Ears bio, she has a 'deep fascination with microorganisms and humorously refers to herself as a 'de-composer.''
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Knoxville Museum of Art | 1050 Worlds Fair Park Drive
This duo is a leader for the new generations of roots musicians, bringing a fresh sound to bluegrass music through de Groot's band and Hargreaves' fiddle. The duo's award-winning album 'Hurricane Clarice' (2022) 'reflects history, family, literature, live performance and environmental instability in the sounds, feelings, and sensations that permeate their music,' according to the Big Ears website.
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Venue: Knoxville Museum of Art | 1050 Worlds Fair Park Drive
Joyful Noise Recordings brings together its Big Ears-attending artists for a special improvised performance. This rare treat for attendees features Wendy Eisenberg, Greg Saunier, Tall Tall Trees, Kramer and Thor Harris.
Time: 3 p.m.
Venue: Pretentious Beer Company | 131 S. Central St.
The Mivos Quartet specializes in performing contemporary classical music to diverse audiences worldwide. The quartet collaborates with established and emerging composers across a broad range of demographics and compositional aesthetics, striving for a deep and meaningful listening experience for audiences.
Mivos operates as a nonprofit organization based in New York City, dedicated to performing, commissioning and collaborating on music being written today.
Time: 3:45 p.m.
Venue: Knoxville Museum of Art | 1050 Worlds Fair Park Drive
Dedicated Men of Zion joins the Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir for evening of 'pure spiritual elevation.' The quartet's sound is rooted in the traditions of gospel, soul and sacred spirituals. The Big Ears site promises 'a performance filled with deep grooves, impassioned call-and-response and an unwavering devotion to the joyful, redemptive spirit of gospel music.'
Free tickets can be reserved at bigearsfestival.frontgatetickets.com.
Time: 5 p.m.
Venue: Knoxville Civic Auditorium | 500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave.
Violins of Hope is an exhibition created by Louis Gauci that collects, restores and showcases violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. Each instrument has been restored and preserved, and each has a physical connection to the hatred, persecution, violence and suffering of the Holocaust. These instruments now serve as powerful symbols of hope and survival.
The exhibition will 'guide visitors through the history of the Holocaust, while emphasizing the power of music to foster hope, resilience and acceptance,' according to the Big Ears site.
Many of the instruments are in Knoxville this spring for the exhibit and performances by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra at the Tennessee Theatre April 9. The first Knoxville performance was March 5.
Times: Noon-6 p.m. March 26-28 | 1-4 p.m. March 29
Venue: Digital Motif Gallery | 108 S. Gay St.
'Kite Symphony' is an exhibition by musician Roberto Carlos Lange and visual artist Kristi Sword that intersects music, performance and visual art. The project features a series of drawings called Radio Telescope and two films: an experimental visual music piece called 'Star Scores' and a film documenting sculptural interventions from their time in Marfa, Texas.
Time: Noon-9 p.m. March 27-29; noon-6 p.m. March 30
Venue: UT Downtown Gallery | 106 S. Gay St.
Historian and director of the Knoxville History Project Jack Neely dives into Knoxville's rich and surprising cultural and musical heritage, which includes early blues and country roots to the city's connections with jazz, rock and experimental music. The talk will highlight key moments, legendary artists and overlooked stories that have shaped Knoxville's music identity.
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Venue: Visit Knoxville Visitors Center | 301 S. Gay St.
A panel of acclaimed music critics come together for a lively discussion previewing the 2025 festival. They'll highlight must-see performances and emerging artists to check out and share why they look forward to the Big Ears Festival each year.
The panel includes Ann Powers (NPR Music), Nate Chinen (The Gig, JazzTimes), Marcus J. Moore (The New York Times, The Atlantic) and Ashley Kahn ("A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album").
This is the perfect guide to navigating the festival's eclectic musical offerings.
Time: 5 p.m.
Venue: Visit Knoxville Visitors Center | 301 S. Gay St.
Singer-songwriter Dawn Richard and music journalist Marcus Moore dig deep into her artistic evolution and career. Paving her own path, Richard has blurred the lines between R&B, electronic, and experimental sounds. And look to Moore for deep dives into Black music and culture.
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Venue: Visit Knoxville Visitors Center | 301 S. Gay St.
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, will discuss the evolving role of archives in the digital age and why these recordings still resonate today.
Time: 11 a.m.
Venue: Visit Knoxville Visitors Center | 301 S. Gay St.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Free 2025 Big Ears Festival shows and events in Knoxville
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