Big Ears Festival - January 13, 2026

New Venue: The Greyhound / Introducing Ragamala / “Holy Roller Disco” and more

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Introducing The Greyhound

As the New Year unfolds, Big Ears 2026 continues to reveal itself, one surprise at a time, with more to come in the weeks ahead.

For the festival weekend only, Big Ears will reopen Knoxville’s iconic Magnolia Greyhound Bus Terminal, a storied architectural landmark that served the city for more than 60 years. Opened in 1959 and celebrated for its Streamline Moderne, mid-century design, the terminal closed in 2022 and was saved from demolition for future redevelopment.

In collaboration with Dewhirst Properties and the City of Knoxville, Big Ears will bring this remarkable space back to life as a new festival venue, hosting a series of distinctive—and at times fully immersive—programs that add a powerful new dimension to the 2026 festival. Located just two blocks from the Mill & Mine, The Point, and Knoxville’s Old City, The Greyhound is poised to become one of Big Ears’ most unforgettable settings.

There’s even more. Additional concerts, plus conversations, live podcasts, films, and art exhibitions will all be revealed in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Ragamala Comes to Big Ears

Ragamala offers a rare path into South Asian classical music—not as a single concert, but as a full-day journey shaped by time, mood, and atmosphere. Many ragas are traditionally tied to specific hours of the day, revealing different colors as morning gives way to afternoon and evening. For the first time at Big Ears, an eight-hour presentation unfolds opening with shimmering morning music from santoor virtuoso Kunal Ganjal, moving through spellbinding Carnatic strings and percussion led by Saraswathi Ranganathan and Selvaganesh Vinayakram, and culminating in expansive performances by sitar master Purbayan Chatterjee and the legendary L. Shankar alongside tabla player Nitin Mitta.

Whether you come for an hour or stay all day, Ragamala invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and experience how music changes with the passing of time.

LEARN MORE

Annie and the Caldwells’ “Holy Roller Disco”

Annie and the Caldwells brought us one of the spellbinding records of the year with their Luaka Bop debut record, Can’t Lose My (Soul), drenched in gospel and the spirit of redemption. In the latest Big Ears podcast, broadcaster and critic Ayana Contreras describes it as “holy roller disco.” It is undeniable nourishment for the heart, soul, and spirit.

READ THE ARTICLE

Pino Palladino & Blake Mills: That Wasn’t A Dream

The bass of Pino Palladino has anchored The Who, the late D’Angelo, Nine Inch Nails, and

countless others. Guitarist, singer/songwriter, producer Blake Mills’ resume includes Bob Dylan,

Alabama Shakes, Perfume Genius, Fiona Apple, and countless others. None of which can quite prepare you for their own band, with saxophonist Sam Gendel and drummer Chris Dave. That

Wasn’t A Dream, their second record, says it all. They play at the Mill & Mine on Friday, March

27, for Big Ears 2026.

READ THE ARTICLE

Julian Lage’s New Quartet: “Night Shade”

Another exquisite taste of Julian Lage’s forthcoming Joe Henry-produced Blue Note record,

Scenes from Above, featuring his new quartet with John Medeski, Jorge Roeder, and Kenny

Wollesen. The full record will be released on January 23; you’ll be able to see them live at Big

Ears on Sunday, March 29. In the meantime, there’s “Night Shade,” which you may just want to

set on repeat for the rest of the day.

LISTEN HERE

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