Big Ears Festival - February 10, 2026

New Podcast and New Additions!

Lovers, Roscoe Returns, Bloodlines & More!

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Big Ears Podcast

Nels Cline & Michael Leonhart: Lovers

On the latest edition of our podcast, Nels Cline, joined by arranger/trumpeter Michael Leonhart, talks with Natalie Weiner about Lovers. Cline’s 2016 Blue Note release musically explores the many mysterious faces and nuances of romance, drawing from the classic great American Songbook alongside tunes from Ambitious Lovers, Annette Peacock, Jimmy Giuffre, even Sonic Youth…and Henry Mancini. Lovers was originally planned for a live performance at BIg Ears 2017, which had to be canceled when travel delays made rehearsals impossible. At long last, it will make its BIg Ears debut on Sunday, March 29, at the Tennessee Theatre. In this edition of Big Ears: Conversations About Music, Cline and Leonhart talk about the 30 year process that led Lovers being recorded and what it’s like to revisit it 10 years later.

LISTEN HERE

Roscoe Mitchell Returns

What a fabulous surprise to share! One of the great iconoclasts of contemporary music - founder of the legendary Art Ensemble of Chicago and the personification of their motto, Great Black Music Ancient to the Future - the legendary composer / saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell will return to Big Ears for the first time since 2019 performing in tandem with one of the leading musical visionaries of a new generation carrying that legacy forward, Tyshawn Sorey. Prepare for a mind-bending and ear-expanding journey.

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The Living Earth Show: Trust Me

Trust Me is an acoustic punk/folk/storytelling band featuring, renowned writer/performer and singer of the seminal punk band Tribe 8, Lynnee Breedlove with The Living Earth Show’s Travis Andrews (guitar), and Andy Meyerson (percussion).

Emerging from an intensely personal period for Breedlove, Trust Me is a collection of songs and stories reflecting that time, a profoundly moving expression of grief, love, loss, life, and redemption.

WATCH HERE

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Bloodlines Interwoven

At Big Ears 2026, Cyro Baptista, Fay Victor, Gamin, Kweku Sumbry, Mafer Bandola, Marika Hughes, Séamus Egan, Shahzad Ismaily, Sunny Jain, Yuniya Edi Kwon will join Japanese flute and taiko drum master Kaoru Watanabe (Kodo, Yo-Yo Ma, Silk Road Ensemble) for Bloodlines Interwoven, in residence for the week of the festival, highlighted with three performances during the festival weekend. This video offers a glimpse behind the scenes.

WATCH HERE

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The Gladson Family Band:

Keeping Tennessee Tradition Alive

The Gladson Family Band are the real deal. Residing in Hancock County Tennessee, they play various styles of traditional music, including old-time fiddling, gospel singing, and traditional bluegrass. The multi-generational family have been keeping the authentic spirit of the music alive for over a decade now, performing regularly at heritage events, festivals, and revivals throughout the region. It’s a delight to have them join us at Big Ears.

WATCH HERE

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