DownBeat’s Fall/Winter Festival issue has landed—and Big Ears takes the #1 spot on their festival wishlist!
But in a sea of music festivals around the world, why Big Ears?
Music journalist Michelle Mercer captures what makes Big Ears unlike any other: a place where discovery unfolds through rare performances and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations. It’s an affirming read for anyone who’s ever felt that Big Ears isn’t just an event, but a shared act of imagination.
“…Brian Blade played [drums] in a couple settings, but he also sang his original songs with a small group in a tiny club... My son and I crammed into the audience beside festival artists Bill Frisell and Petra Haden.”
This is what Big Ears is all about—artists, listeners, and dreamers gathering for an experience that’s adventurous, communal, and alive with possibility.