Podcasts about Big Ears Festival

In his work with Sons of Kemet, and then in The Smile with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, and as a sought after jazz and session drummer, Tom Skinner is very much a known quantity in music circles in the UK and internationally. Also a solo artist, his newest album, Kaleidoscopic Visions, was released by International Anthem in September 2025. Hear how songs by Ornette Coleman, Federico Mompou, and Sam Gendel shaped him. We spoke to him live at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with conductor, composer, and longtime contemporary music advocate Brad Lubman for a wide-ranging conversation about interpretation, rehearsal, composition, and the deeper responsibilities of making music with other people.Brad first came onto my radar through his work conducting Steve Reich's music, but this conversation quickly opened into something much larger. He talks about the way audiences often associate him with Reich's music, while reminding us that he had already built a substantial life in new music long before that connection began. From there, we get into a fascinating discussion about what conductors actually do, and why he resists the idea that great conducting is about imposing personality on a score. For Brad, the work begins with the composer's intentions and the discipline of bringing those intentions to life as clearly and honestly as possible.We also spend time on Brad's path as both a percussionist and a conductor, including how his early love of drums and rock music, and later of orchestral music, shaped the musician he became. He reflects on what percussion taught him about immediacy, time, and gesture, and how those lessons still inform the way he teaches conductors today. His thoughts on rehearsal are especially compelling: the idea that a conductor's role is not to dominate but to create conditions in which musicians can play with confidence, clarity, and artistry.A particularly rewarding part of this conversation centers on Brad's own music, especially his powerful piece Tangents for two pianos and two percussionists. He shares the origin of that work, how it emerged during a moment when he was considering stepping away from composition, and why it marked the beginning of a new phase in his musical language. We also talk about his long association with Steve Reich, Ensemble Signal, and the kinds of life-changing moments that can come from simply doing your work well and being ready when the right people are listening.By the end of the conversation, what comes through most clearly is Brad's seriousness of purpose and his belief in music as a communal act. Whether he is conducting, composing, teaching at the Eastman School of Music, or building programs with Ensemble Signal and major orchestras around the world, he approaches music with precision, humility, and an unwavering sense of service to the score and the people making it.Key TakeawaysBrad Lubman offers a thoughtful distinction between “interpretation” and serving the composer's intentions, arguing that great conducting begins with fidelity to the score rather than ego.He explains why so much of what audiences hear as a conductor's influence is actually shaped in rehearsal, not just in performance.Brad reflects on how his background as a drummer and percussionist sharpened his sense of time, touch, and physical gesture.We talk in depth about his piece Tangents and why that work marked a turning point in his life as a composer.Brad shares how key moments in his career — including his connection to Steve Reich and the New York premiere of City Life — came through preparation, reputation, and musical trust.He discusses the communal nature of orchestral music-making and his belief that an ensemble can model cooperation at the highest level.The conversation concludes with a look at his current work as a teacher, conductor, composer, and advocate for contemporary music worldwide.Music from the EpisodeMusic for 18 Musicians (Pulse) - Steve Reich (Ensemble Signal - Brad Lubman, Conductor)Radio Rewrite (I. Fast) - Steve Reich (Ensemble Signal - Brad Lubman, Conductor)Double Sextet (I. Fast) - Steve Reich (Ensemble Signal - Brad Lubman, Conductor)Tangents - Brad Lubman (Icaras Quartet)About the PodcastThe Bandwich Tapes is my chance to sit down with musicians, composers, songwriters, conductors, and creative artists I admire for honest conversations about craft, collaboration, career, and the deeper ideas that shape their work. It's a show about process, perspective, and the stories behind a life in music.Connect with the ShowEmail: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

This week's Talkhouse Podcast features a conversation between two ridiculously talented young songwriter/guitarists in the early days of what will surely be interesting careers: Mei Semones and John Roseboro. Semones famously found her passion for guitar by watching the “Johnny B. Goode” scene in Back to the Future, which led her to music school and the kind of genre-spanning passion that feels refreshingly unfiltered. Sometimes she'll play delicate, jazz-inflected acoustic songs while singing in Japanese; the next minute it's more familiar indie-pop that adds a bit of bossa nova or some shredding. The fact that it doesn't make sense is what makes it make sense, if you get what I mean. Semones was a big hit at this year's experimental-leaning Big Ears Festival, and she's also got a big social media following—that's an odd crossover, or at least I think it is. Next week she'll open a string of shows for American Football on the west coast before heading down to charm Australia. Her first full-length was last year's Animaru, and she followed it recently with an EP called Kurage, which includes a song made with today's other guest, John Roseboro. Roseboro has called his music “post-Bossa Nova” or sometimes just “post-Bossa,” but that only tells part of the story. He's a thoughtful, observant lyricist who's great at building a vibe and then taking it to unexpected places. Like Semones, he lives in Brooklyn, though he ended up there via a strange route that took him to mortuary school and some time among the Amish. His latest full-length is 2024's Fools, but since then he's released a charming cover of the classic “Close To You” that removes a lot of the cheese associated with various other versions over the years. He also collaborated with Semones on a track from her EP that recounts a story of his lost tooth and a meeting on a subway platform. Check out that song, “Tooth Fairy,” right here. In this charming, relentlessly laid-back conversation, Semones and Roseboro—who are good friends, as you'll be able to tell—hit each other with questions that lead everywhere from what food they like on the road to the magic of music. Succumb to their rhythm and enjoy the conversation. 0:00 — Intro 2:28 — Start of conversation 2:50 — If you could be an animal, what would you be? 4:19 — On traveling and finding a home base 5:50 — What do you think about while performing? 8:15 — On noticing the audience at shows, and hecklers 10:10 — On favorite types of food, and go-to deli orders 12:46 — On what makes a good song & lyrics 16:29 — On underrated songs they've made 18:40 — On dreams and dream imagery 20:38 — On Nerd Clusters, snacks, and drinks on rider requests 22:03 — On favorite sports 22:40 — Have you ever been in a fight? 24:49 — On favorite seasons and months 25:13 — On the differences between touring and recording 27:56 — On sleeping 28:55 — On subtlety Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Mei Semones and John Roseboro for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

To try to list all the projects, both solo and group, that Shahzad Ismaily has been a part of would take much more time than we have available, even in this notoriously long-winded medium. Instead, it might be better to offer a small sampling of those with whom he’s collaborated (Sam Smith, Mike Doughty; Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Marc Ribot), and then offer the description of him as a bass player and multi-instrumentalist who’s equally comfortable in the jazz, pop, and experimental idioms, as well as a soulful, generous player and collaborator. Hear him discuss how pieces by U2, Thomas Koner, and Ida change his creative course. Special guest host and previous guest Fred Frith conducted this interview of Ismaily at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026. More on Seventh Stanine here. More on festival sponsor Art Sound Language here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore.Julianna is a composer, vocalist, and producer whose music is built almost entirely from layered, looped human voices. Mary is a harpist who has spent years pushing that instrument into a vast, exploratory realm.In January 2025, the two flew to Paris just days after the LA wildfires tore through their community. There, they spent nine days recording with instruments pulled from a museum, including harps dating back to 1728 and vintage analog synthesizers. The result is Tragic Magic, out on InFiné, and it's one of the most talked-about records of the year so far.Julianna and Mary just returned from Big Ears Festival and, in a few days, are heading back to Paris to perform these songs live with those same instruments. We caught them as they were preparing for the trip.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore's Tragic Magic)—Dig Deeper• Artist and Album:Visit Julianna Barwick at juliannabarwick.com and follow her on Instagram and FacebookVisit Mary Lattimore at marylattimore.net and follow her on Instagram and FacebookPurchase Tragic Magic from InFiné, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice• Recording Location:Philharmonie de Paris — Musée de la Musique — the museum whose instrument collection made the album possibleMusée de la Musique collections database — searchable archive of the museum's historic instruments• Collaborators:Roger Eno — composer of "Temple of the Winds," written for voice and harp after a shared lunch with Barwick and Lattimore in MelbourneTrevor Spencer — engineer, additional producer, and mixer on Tragic Magic; known for his work with Fleet Foxes and Beach House• Instruments:Jacob Hochbrücker — maker of the 1728 harp used for "Temple of the Winds"; one of the oldest instruments on the albumÉrard harps — the French instrument maker whose 1799 and 1873 harps Mary Lattimore used throughout the sessionsSequential Circuits Prophet-5 — the synthesizer Julianna Barwick chose; introduced in 1978 as the first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizerRoland Jupiter-8 — the second synthesizer Barwick used; the "Jupiter" referenced throughout the episodeKorg VC-10 Vocoder — used by Barwick on "Stardust" and elsewhere on the album• Visual Art — James Turrell:James Turrell — the light artist whose work both Barwick and Lattimore cite as a significant influenceJames Turrell: Into the Light at MASS MoCA — where Barwick and Lattimore opened Turrell's newest Skyspace, C.A.V.U.Chichu Art Museum, Naoshima — permanent Turrell installations on the Japanese island Mary mentions visitingJames Turrell retrospective at the Guggenheim — the 2013 exhibition (Aten Reign) that first brought Mary to Turrell's work after reading a New Yorker review• Previous InFiné / Musée de la Musique Collaborations:InBach by Arandel (2020) — the first album in InFiné's Musée de la Musique series, featuring Baroque instrumentsSaturn 63 by Seb Martel (2022) — the second album in the series; Tragic Magic is the third—Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com—• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore.Julianna is a composer, vocalist, and producer whose music is built almost entirely from layered, looped human voices. Mary is a harpist who has spent years pushing that instrument into a vast, exploratory realm.In January 2025, the two flew to Paris just days after the LA wildfires tore through their community. There, they spent nine days recording with instruments pulled from a museum, including harps dating back to 1728 and vintage analog synthesizers. The result is Tragic Magic, out on InFiné, and it's one of the most talked-about records of the year so far.Julianna and Mary just returned from Big Ears Festival and, in a few days, are heading back to Paris to perform these songs live with those same instruments. We caught them as they were preparing for the trip.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore's Tragic Magic)—Dig Deeper• Artist and Album:Visit Julianna Barwick at juliannabarwick.com and follow her on Instagram and FacebookVisit Mary Lattimore at marylattimore.net and follow her on Instagram and FacebookPurchase Tragic Magic from InFiné, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice• Recording Location:Philharmonie de Paris — Musée de la Musique — the museum whose instrument collection made the album possibleMusée de la Musique collections database — searchable archive of the museum's historic instruments• Collaborators:Roger Eno — composer of "Temple of the Winds," written for voice and harp after a shared lunch with Barwick and Lattimore in MelbourneTrevor Spencer — engineer, additional producer, and mixer on Tragic Magic; known for his work with Fleet Foxes and Beach House• Instruments:Jacob Hochbrücker — maker of the 1728 harp used for "Temple of the Winds"; one of the oldest instruments on the albumÉrard harps — the French instrument maker whose 1799 and 1873 harps Mary Lattimore used throughout the sessionsSequential Circuits Prophet-5 — the synthesizer Julianna Barwick chose; introduced in 1978 as the first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizerRoland Jupiter-8 — the second synthesizer Barwick used; the "Jupiter" referenced throughout the episodeKorg VC-10 Vocoder — used by Barwick on "Stardust" and elsewhere on the album• Visual Art — James Turrell:James Turrell — the light artist whose work both Barwick and Lattimore cite as a significant influenceJames Turrell: Into the Light at MASS MoCA — where Barwick and Lattimore opened Turrell's newest Skyspace, C.A.V.U.Chichu Art Museum, Naoshima — permanent Turrell installations on the Japanese island Mary mentions visitingJames Turrell retrospective at the Guggenheim — the 2013 exhibition (Aten Reign) that first brought Mary to Turrell's work after reading a New Yorker review• Previous InFiné / Musée de la Musique Collaborations:InBach by Arandel (2020) — the first album in InFiné's Musée de la Musique series, featuring Baroque instrumentsSaturn 63 by Seb Martel (2022) — the second album in the series; Tragic Magic is the third—Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com—• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This the 2nd hour of a special Big Ears Festival 2026 episode of The Land of Make Believe with Old Man Ratchet. This features artist that performed at this year's festival and was aired on Saturday March 28th 2026 from 9 to 10 pm (est) on WOZO-LP 103.9 FM Knoxville, TN and streamed online at wozoradio.com. This show was mixed using Serato Dj Pro software using a Pioneer DDJ Rev 5 controller. Additional editing, vocals and production was done with Audacity Freeware for noncommercial use. To download and for tracklist, please search Old Man Ratchet at Archive.org. WOZO is a non-commercial, community radio station that relies on listener support. To help us stay on the air, please consider a donation through Venmo @wozofm or support my patreon.com/OldManRatchet THANKS! Mail us! PO BOX 746 Knoxville, TN 37901 email me: OldManRatchet1039@gmail.comTracklist Hour 2: Station IDPSA - Older People Volunteer for WOZOHour IntroShirlette Ammons - SpadesTim Heidecker - MAGALucrecia Dalt - no death no dangerYHWH Nailgun - Tear PusherTunde Adebimpe - MagneticShirlette Ammons - Neighborhood HeadlinesTim Heidecker - Trump's PilotShabaka - Stand FirmYHWH Nailgun - Blackout Hour InterludeGRRL - ScatterAdrian Sherwood - The Collapse Of Everything (Live in Japan)Georgia Anne Muldrow - OverloadCymande - Brothers On The SlideShirlette Ammons - ALL DOWNModel/Actriz - Crossing GuardSML - IndustryBrittany Davis - I Choose to LiveGRRL - Clatter Show Outro PSA - Please Donate to WOZO

This the 1st hour of a special Big Ears Festival 2026 episode of The Land of Make Believe with Old Man Ratchet. This Features artist that performed at this year's festival and was aired on Saturday March 28th 2026 from 8 to 9 pm (est) on WOZO-LP 103.9 FM Knoxville, TN and streamed online at wozoradio.com. This show was mixed using Serato Dj Pro software using a Pioneer DDJ Rev 5 controller. Additional editing, vocals and production was done with Audacity Freeware for noncommercial use. To download and for track list, please search Old Man Ratchet at Archive.org. WOZO is a non-commercial, community radio station that relies on listener support. To help us stay on the air, please consider a donation through Venmo @wozofm or support my patreon.com/OldManRatchet THANKS! Mail us! PO BOX 746 Knoxville, TN 37901 email me: OldManRatchet1039@gmail.comTracklist Hour 1:Show IntroShirlette Ammons - SpectaclesAdrian Sherwood - Starship BahiaTunde Adebimpe - Ate The MoonTim Heidecker & The Very Good Band - Dad of the YearDon Was and The Pan Detroit Ensemble - Nubian LadyModel/Actriz - MosquitoHour InterludeGRRL - AmberS.G. Goodman - Work Until I DieAnnie and the Caldwells - World Is on FireDeantoni Parks - Black AxiomsTara Clerkin Trio - HellenicaTim Heidecker & The Very Good Band - Trippin' (Slippin')GRRL - DaisyHour OutroPSA - Smokey Bear Wildfire Awareness

This week Scott talks about County Commission's decision to defer a vote on Commissioner Larsen Jay's proposal to eliminate the wheel tax, the first meeting of the Chilhowee Park Advisory Group, blocked anti-LGBTQ bills in the Legislature, a former property assessor candidate's felony convictions and the Big Ears Festival. He also looks ahead to a county election candidate forum and this week's City Council meeting.

Ashley Capps joins Bob Thomas to talk about his legendary career as a music promoter, how he got introduced into the world of music as a young kid, some of the acts he's booked and preview this year's BIG EARS FESTIVAL, taking place March 26-29, featuring artists like Robert Plant, David Byrne & more! #PhilShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most of his career, Bonner Kramer has been known in underground music circles by only his surname, as his imprint has been deep and wide enough that only that sobriquet has been necessary. Starting in New York City in the late 70’s and into the 80’s, he was a member of several seminal bands of the era including New York Gong and Bongwater, and played in the Butthole Surfers, Ween, Half Japanese, The Fugs, and with John Zorn. As a producer, he has worked with Galaxie 500 (whose entire catalog he produced), Low, Half Japanese, Gwar, Will Oldham, Daniel Johnston, and Urge Overkill, and founded the Shimmy Disc label. He’ll perform at this year’s Big Ears Festival both by himself, as well as with Thurston Moore and Mark Nelson of Pan-American, respectively, in March of 2026. On this episode, hear how songs sung by Billie Holliday, Gavin Bryars, and Robert Wyatt informed his work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Scott and Jesse talk about City Council's approval of homeless services on Clinton Highway, Knoxville's new master plan for public parks, the firing of University of Tennessee Professor Tamar Shirinian, a Republican feud between developer Scott Davis and political consultant Erik Wiatr, and the opening to the public of the restored Eugenia Williams House. They look ahead to this week's meetings of County Commission and City Council, as well as the annual extravaganza that is the Big Ears Festival.

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Zeena Parkins, composer, improviser, and one of the most singular forces in experimental music.Zeena has spent four decades dismantling what the harp can do: through electronics, object preparations, and a series of custom electric instruments she built herself, she's turned a concert hall fixture into something alive and unpredictable.Her collaborators range from Björk to John Zorn to Pauline Oliveros. Last year, she released two records paying tribute to her years teaching at Mills College before its closure: Modesty of the Magic Thing and Lament of the Maker. And she's performing this spring at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville. She's also a Guggenheim Fellow and a three-time Bessie Award winner for her work composing for dance.We cover all of it: her instruments, her process, and what it means to make music at the edge of what's possible.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Zeena Parkins' album Lament of the Maker)—Dig DeeperArtist and RecordingsVisit Zeena Parkins at zeenaparkins.com and follow her on Instagram and BandcampPurchase Lament for the Maker (Relative Pitch Records, 2025) from Bandcamp or Qobuz, and listen on your streaming platform of choicePurchase Modesty of the Magic Thing (Tzadik, 2025) from Qobuz or Squidco, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceCollaborators MentionedWilliam Winant — percussionist and longtime collaborator; Parkins discusses finding Lou Harrison instruments in his studio and performing Modesty of the Magic Thing with himFred Frith — guitarist and composer; Parkins replaced him at Mills and performed with him in Skeleton CrewLaetitia Sonami — sound artist and Mills colleague; composed "She is a Butcher in My Dreams" for Lament for the MakerJames Fei — composer and Mills colleague; composed "In Such Circumstances of Miscalculations" for Lament for the MakerJennifer Monson — choreographer; one of Parkins's most significant long-term dance collaboratorsChris Cutler — drummer; encountered Parkins in Europe and brought her into News from BabelNayland Blake — artist who curated the San Francisco gallery show where Parkins gave her first solo concertEnsembles and ProjectsSkeleton Crew — experimental rock trio with Fred Frith and Tom CoraNews from Babel — group with Chris Cutler, Lindsay Cooper, and Dagmar Krause; Parkins discusses joining after meeting Cutler in EuropeTable of the Elements — American experimental music label; released Parkins's first solo recordRoulette Intermedium — Brooklyn venue where Parkins and Winant perform Modesty of the Magic Thing just before Big EarsArtists and Figures DiscussedJay DeFeo — Bay Area visual artist whose work, particularly The Rose and the Seven Pillars of Voice series, inspired Modesty of the Magic ThingThe Rose at the Whitney Museum — DeFeo's monumental painting, now in the Whitney's permanent collectionLou Harrison — American composer whose handmade instruments, bequeathed to William Winant, are central to Modesty of the Magic ThingDaphne Oram — British electronic music pioneer who worked at the BBC; Parkins mentions her as inspiration for an upcoming electric harp recordFestivalsBig Ears Festival — Knoxville, Tennessee; March 26–29, 2026; Parkins performs Modesty of the Magic Thing with William WinantOther Minds Festival — San Francisco; site of the West Coast premiere of Modesty of the Magic Thing—Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com—• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Zeena Parkins, composer, improviser, and one of the most singular forces in experimental music.Zeena has spent four decades dismantling what the harp can do: through electronics, object preparations, and a series of custom electric instruments she built herself, she's turned a concert hall fixture into something alive and unpredictable.Her collaborators range from Björk to John Zorn to Pauline Oliveros. Last year, she released two records paying tribute to her years teaching at Mills College before its closure: Modesty of the Magic Thing and Lament of the Maker. And she's performing this spring at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville. She's also a Guggenheim Fellow and a three-time Bessie Award winner for her work composing for dance.We cover all of it: her instruments, her process, and what it means to make music at the edge of what's possible.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Zeena Parkins' album Lament of the Maker)—Dig DeeperArtist and RecordingsVisit Zeena Parkins at zeenaparkins.com and follow her on Instagram and BandcampPurchase Lament for the Maker (Relative Pitch Records, 2025) from Bandcamp or Qobuz, and listen on your streaming platform of choicePurchase Modesty of the Magic Thing (Tzadik, 2025) from Qobuz or Squidco, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceCollaborators MentionedWilliam Winant — percussionist and longtime collaborator; Parkins discusses finding Lou Harrison instruments in his studio and performing Modesty of the Magic Thing with himFred Frith — guitarist and composer; Parkins replaced him at Mills and performed with him in Skeleton CrewLaetitia Sonami — sound artist and Mills colleague; composed "She is a Butcher in My Dreams" for Lament for the MakerJames Fei — composer and Mills colleague; composed "In Such Circumstances of Miscalculations" for Lament for the MakerJennifer Monson — choreographer; one of Parkins's most significant long-term dance collaboratorsChris Cutler — drummer; encountered Parkins in Europe and brought her into News from BabelNayland Blake — artist who curated the San Francisco gallery show where Parkins gave her first solo concertEnsembles and ProjectsSkeleton Crew — experimental rock trio with Fred Frith and Tom CoraNews from Babel — group with Chris Cutler, Lindsay Cooper, and Dagmar Krause; Parkins discusses joining after meeting Cutler in EuropeTable of the Elements — American experimental music label; released Parkins's first solo recordRoulette Intermedium — Brooklyn venue where Parkins and Winant perform Modesty of the Magic Thing just before Big EarsArtists and Figures DiscussedJay DeFeo — Bay Area visual artist whose work, particularly The Rose and the Seven Pillars of Voice series, inspired Modesty of the Magic ThingThe Rose at the Whitney Museum — DeFeo's monumental painting, now in the Whitney's permanent collectionLou Harrison — American composer whose handmade instruments, bequeathed to William Winant, are central to Modesty of the Magic ThingDaphne Oram — British electronic music pioneer who worked at the BBC; Parkins mentions her as inspiration for an upcoming electric harp recordFestivalsBig Ears Festival — Knoxville, Tennessee; March 26–29, 2026; Parkins performs Modesty of the Magic Thing with William WinantOther Minds Festival — San Francisco; site of the West Coast premiere of Modesty of the Magic Thing—Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com—• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with pianist, composer, improviser, label founder, and educator Kris Davis—one of the most forward-thinking voices in creative music today. Our conversation left me feeling genuinely energized. Kris approaches music with a rare combination of curiosity, discipline, and fearless experimentation, and it was a joy to dig into how all of that shows up in her work.We start with what's immediately ahead for her: a trip to Hamburg to premiere a newly expanded big band version of a trio piece with the NDR Big Band. Kris shares the very real “composer panic” that comes with catching an engraving mistake right before rehearsal—one of those behind-the-scenes realities of composing that every musician can relate to.From there, we talk about festivals—especially Big Ears, which feels like its own musical universe—and dive into two major pillars of her work: prepared piano and large-form composition. Kris reflects on studying with pianist Benoît Delbecq, whose approach to prepared piano emphasized rhythm, individuality, and finding a personal sonic vocabulary.One of the highlights of our conversation is a deep look at her remarkable Solastalgia Suite, written for the Lutosławski Quartet after a commission through Poland's Jazz to Pad Festival. Kris talks about learning how to write for strings in real time and how the concept of **solastalgia—the grief you feel for your home while you're still living in it—**became the emotional core of the piece.We also zoom out into the bigger picture of her work: her leadership role alongside Terri Lyne Carrington at Berklee's Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, and her decade-long journey building Pyroclastic Records, a label dedicated to supporting adventurous music and the artists creating it. At its heart, this conversation is about craft, community, curiosity, and the importance of taking creative risks on purpose.Key TakeawaysThe behind-the-scenes realities of composing for large ensembles—including last-minute engraving panic before a premiere.Why festivals like Big Ears create a unique ecosystem for creative music.How studying with Benoît Delbecq shaped Kris Davis's approach to prepared piano.The creative challenge of writing for string quartet for the first time.The emotional meaning of solastalgia and how it shaped the Solastalgia Suite.Kris's work at Berklee's Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice alongside Terri Lyne Carrington.How Pyroclastic Records has grown into an important platform for adventurous and forward-thinking music.Music from the EpisodeDiatom Ribbons — Kris DavisInterlude (from the Solastalgia Suite) — Kris DavisLife on Venus (from the Solastalgia Suite) — Kris DavisRun the Gauntlet — Kris DavisAbout the PodcastThe Bandwich Tapes is a long-form conversation podcast where host Brad Williams sits down with some of the most thoughtful musicians, composers, and artists working today. The show explores the stories behind the music—creative process, collaboration, career paths, and the human experiences that shape the sounds we love.Connect with the ShowEmail: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

A harpist since childhood–as well as the daughter of one–Mary Lattimore’s choice of instrument reveals the simple beauty it contains, transcending the stereotype of it being strictly for use in classical music or as flourishes in movie soundtracks. Her ability to cut straight to the heart in her compositions works the same trick, not relying on the standard glissandos often employed by traditional players, but simply reducing the instrument to its essence. Her most recent release is a duet with Julianna Barwick, Tragic Magic, and came out in January of 2026. The duo will perform at this year’s Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2026. Hear how songs by Debussy, The Cure, and Sonic Youth guided her musical path.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listing Joe Boyd’s most significant accomplishments as a producer, label owner, and music historian is a tall order. A short list of artists he’s worked with includes Nick Drake (heard here), Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, The Incredible String Band, R.E.M., Vashti Bunyan, Billy Bragg, and 10,000 Maniacs. Additionally, he was the founder of Hannibal Records, the label responsible for bringing the term “world music” into the lexicon, as well as serving as a music producer for Warner Bros., where he collaborated with Stanley Kubrick on the soundtrack of A Clockwork Orange and 1972’s Deliverance. His most recent work is as the author of White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, as well as And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music, which came out in 2024. On this episode, hear how songs by Fats Domino, Fairport Convention, and Carlos Gardel shaped his sensibilities. Boyd will be a part of this year’s Big Ears Festival taking place in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bristol, UK’s Tara Clerkin Trio first came to our attention last year when they received an invitation from the Big Ears Festival to play its 2025 edition, and, upon listening to their 2023 EP On the Turning Ground as a means of introduction, we were immediately smitten. Members Tara Clerkin, Pat Benjamin, and Sunny-Joe Paradisos have synthesized elements of minimalism, dub, and more traditionally melodic genres to create sounds that are simultaneously patient, intimate, and seductive. Hear how songs by Casino Versus Japan, Frederic Galliano, and Durutti Column were formative for them. They’ll be playing this year’s Big Ears Festival on Friday, March 27, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Colombia-born singer and musician Lucrecia Dalt began her musical career seemingly suddenly, at least when observed from a distance as a simple biographical factoid: as a civil engineer, she worked in a geotechnical company until giving it up to become a musician. While the exact details of that situation are likely considerably more nuanced, it nevertheless serves as a metaphor for her ambitious and ever-forward artistic inclinations. This is particularly true in her 2021 collaboration with Aaron Dilloway, Lucy & Aaron, which took her work deeper into more fragmented, abstract territory. She continues on this path with her newest release, A Danger to Ourselves, which was released in late 2025. On this episode, she talks about how songs by Rocio Durcal, PJ Harvey, and David Sylvian informed her sensibilities. Dalt will perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bassist Melvin Gibbs has played on many seminal records you’re very familiar with, and likely many you aren’t, almost 200 in total. Some of his better-known work includes playing with drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson, guitarist Sonny Sharrock, as well as Rollins Band, and Arto Lindsay. Although having played in stylistically varied projects, there is one constant among all them, which is Gibbs’ palpable presence, as he’s not a typical “session” player or one to recede into the background. Regardless of the project, his passion, precision, and distinctive, extremely musical playing stand out. Gibbs will appear as part of the Electrical Field of Love project featuring his group Harriet Tubman & Georgia Anne Muldrow at the 2026 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN. On this episode, he talks about how songs by Undine Smith Moore, Les Tambours de Brazza, and 67 guided his musical course.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adrian Sherwood is known for his work as a producer, and while that term brings to mind those who simply put their often-subtle imprint on the recordings in which they’re involved, Sherwood’s approach is distinctive and heavily informed by the Dub music which he worked to distribute and to play as a DJ in London in the 1970’s. He has brought that sensibility primarily, but not exclusively, to electronic and electronic dance music, as well as many remixes of work by bands ranging from Depeche Mode, Sinead O’Connor, Primal Scream, Coldcut, and Skinny Puppy. His most recent solo record is 2025’s The Collapse of Everything. Sherwood will perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026. In this episode, he talks about how songs by Lee Perry, Mark Stewart, and Elvis Presley guided his musical development.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born and bred in Dublin, Ireland, Ian Lynch is a founding member of traditional Irish cum modernist folk band Lankum. A passionate player and supporter–as well as a keen historian–of traditional Irish music, Lynch, along with his bandmates in Lankum, bring a passionate and renewed sense of spirit to the idiom with rousing performances in which they employ traditional instruments that serve to both honor and also expand its scope. Lynch is also the creator and host of the monthly Fire Draw Near podcast and radio show which investigates Irish traditional music and song in all of its myriad forms. We spoke to Lynch live at the 2025 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria Shen (also known by her performance alias Evicshen) is a San Francisco–based sound artist, experimental music performer, and instrument-maker whose work blends tactile audioworks with visceral live performance. Her practice engages deeply with the physicality and spatiality of sound, often through custom-built electronics, analog modular synthesizers, and hybrid sculpture-instruments. Shen is perhaps best known for pioneering “Needle Nails”—acrylic fingernails fitted with embedded turntable styluses enabling her to play multiple record grooves simultaneously. She’s also created a copper-speaker album sleeve for her debut LP Hair Birth, and hand-poured resin records with embedded found objects. Rooted in improvisation, her live sets are described as spirited, confrontational, and intensely physical, incorporating elements like whips, saw blades, and combs to shape visceral resonance with her audience. In this episode, here how songs by Faye Wong, Jimi Hendrix, and Lightning Bolt were formative for her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Tyler is an American guitarist and composer known for his unique blend of fingerstyle guitar, ambient, and post-rock influences. Hailing from Nashville, Tyler's music weaves intricate, melodic soundscapes that are often both introspective and expansive. Critics have praised Tyler for his ability to evoke deep emotion through his instrumental work. Pitchfork described Goes West as "a stunning meditation on the American landscape, both real and imagined. “ Through his work, Tyler has carved a distinctive niche within the instrumental music world, drawing comparisons to guitar greats like John Fahey and Leo Kottke. His newest record, Time Indefinite, was released by Psychic Hotline in spring of 2025. In this episode, recorded live at the Big Ears Festival in March of 2025, he talks about how songs by Scott Joplin, The Troggs, and Popol Vuh were formative for him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs presented his $1.1 billion budget proposal last week. Scott breaks down the spending plan. He then looks at the local impacts of the Trump administration's efforts to slash the budgets of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the looming effects of tariffs. He also covers the Greenheck Group's groundbreaking at Midway Business Park and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville budget. Scott then turns his attention to this week's public meetings. The city and county are both holding public budget hearings, and County Commission and City Council are also holding voting meetings. This is a free service of CompassKnox.com please subscrie and share this podcast to help support Compass.   

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Few events embody the act of listening and receiving quite like the Big Ears Festival, which happens every spring in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nate was there this year, conducting artist interviews and taking in as much music as he could handle. He reports back with some highlights, and shares an interview he conducted just before heading down — with trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and pianist Vijay Iyer, who have a new duo album, Defiant Life, and performed together at Big Ears. Their ideal of spontaneous creative communion, and engagement with the state of the world, feels right on time. Support The Late Set by becoming a WRTI Member: https://www.wrti.org/contact-us-membershipSupport WRTI: https://bit.ly/2yAkaJsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the 2nd hour of a special Big Ears Festival 2025 episode of The Land of Make Believe with Old Man Ratchet that aired on Saturday March 30th, 2025 from 9 to 10 pm (est) on WOZO-LP 103.9 FM Knoxville, TN and streamed online at wozoradio.com. This hour was mixed using Serato Dj Pro software using a Pioneer DDJ Rev 5 controller. Additional editing, vocals and production was done with Audacity Freeware for noncommercial use. WOZO is a non-commercial, community radio station that relies on listener support. To help us stay on the air, please consider a donation through Venmo @wozofm Thank You!LunaVersol Station IDMystic Mountain Show PromoNeural Viz - MonodrexMark Guiliana - RitualHour IntroSun Ra Arkestra - Lights on a SatelliteYo La Tengo - Sinatra Drive BreakdownClippin. - Say The NameBrandon Seabrook - Historical Importance of Eccentricity Kalia Vandever - Stillness In HandClippin. - GoThor Harris - Peace Mantra (with Alex Somers) Esperanza Spalding - Radio Song DARKSIDE - Heavy Is Good For ThisTall Tall Trees - Happy Birthday in JailMark Guiliana - Question Mark Show Outro Clippin. - Change the Channel

This is the 1st hour of a special Big Ears Festival 2025 episode of The Land of Make Believe with Old Man Ratchet that aired on Saturday March 30th, 2025 from 8 to 9 pm (est) on WOZO-LP 103.9 FM Knoxville, TN and streamed online at wozoradio.com. This hour was mixed using Serato Dj Pro software using a Pioneer DDJ Rev 5 controller. Intro talk over beat was done on the fly using a Korg Kaossilator. Additional editing, vocals and production was done with Audacity Freeware for noncommercial use. WOZO is a non-commercial, community radio station that relies on listener support. To help us stay on the air, please consider a donation through Venmo @wozofm Thank You!Station ID PSA - Please Help WOZO Radio Promo - Audio Collision Astrid Sonne - Light and Heavy Show Intro Esperanza Spalding - Land of the Free Clippin. - Code June McDoom - Piano Song Swamp Dogg - Rocky RaccoonDARKSIDE - Hell suite, Pt. IILaraaji - Koto (Glimpse)Josh Johnson - Who Happens If DakhaBrakha - MonakhEsperanza Spalding - Endangered SpeciesAlabaster dePlume and Soccer96 - I Was Gonna Fight Fascism Amara Freitas - Mapinguari (Encantado da Mata)Show InterludeClippin. - Welcome Home Warrior (feat. Aesop Rock) Swamp Dogg - Rise Up (Feat. Vernon Reid)Antipop Consortium - Driving In CirclesTyshawn Sorey Trio - REM Blues Immanuel Wilkins - MOSHPITHour Outro

A group of prominent Democrats is circulating a petition in hopes of persuading Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon to run for Knox County mayor in 2026. In this week's episode, Scott looks at the effort and Kincannon's response. He also talks about Rural Metro's decision to charge a fee to non-subscribers for emergency responses, the regional draft mobility plan, the president's executive order on citizenship and voting, and the Big Ears Festival.

Japanese musician and composer Ikue Mori is widely known for her innovative work in experimental electronic music. Having initially gained recognition as a drummer for the avant-garde rock band DNA with Arto Lindsay in the late 1970s, she helped define the band's distinct sound. As her career evolved, Mori transitioned to using electronics and computers, exploring sound manipulation and producing intricate soundscapes that blend noise, rhythm, and melody. Her solo projects and collaborations with artists across genres have earned her a reputation as a pioneering force in the world of experimental music. In this episode, she discusses how songs by Ennio Morricone, Les Baxter, and Masuru Sato formed her sensibilities. Mori will perform at this year’s Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March in her project with Zeena Parkins, Phantom Orchard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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As close to indie rock royalty as may exist, Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo–a band nearing its 40th year in existence that he founded with his partner, drummer Georgia Hubley in the mid-1980’s–has recorded 17 records under that name and influenced more bands than could be named here. Simultaneously considered critics’ darlings but also having established a wide, loyal, and sustaining fanbase, the band–anchored by bass player James McNew–will perform with the Sun Ra Arkestra at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March. In this episode, he discusses how songs by Half Japanese, the Grateful Dead, and The Tremeloes guided his development.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First coming to international attention after Brian Eno heard him playing in Washington Square Park in New York City in 1979, Laraaji’s calm, meditative, and deeply spiritual work was widely heard for the first time when his Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, record was released by Eno in 1980 as the third in his “Ambient” series. A collection of his early, previously unreleased work, Segue to Infinity, was released by Numero Group in October of 2023. Laraaji will perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2025, and in this episode talks about how songs by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, Frank Sinatra, and Pharrell Williams were formative for him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Berlin-based avant-guitarist Jules Reidy is known for creating elaborate, beautiful textures with their instrument, often in large washes of disorienting sound. As evidenced in several collaborations with previous guest of the show Oren Ambarchi, Reidy's heavily-layered and highly-spiritual work–particularly on their newest release, Ghost/Spirit, which is out soon on Thrill Jockey–is also transfixing, particularly upon close and repeated listens. In this episode, they talk about how compositions by Catherine Lamb, Talk Talk, and Dean Roberts shaped their creative sensibilities. Reidy will perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2025. Join our Patreon to support the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Norwegian singer Susanna, whose full name is Susanna Karolina Wallumrød, first grew to fame for her work in her group Susanna and the Magical Orchestra. Her warm, soulful, and at times ethereal voice lends both her original compositions and beautifully-rendered covers a deep source of vulnerability and humanity. First recommended to us by previous guest, and guest host, Will Oldham, Susanna's album Sonata Mix Dwarf Cosmos was featured in a deeply moving Selector Series event hosted by Oldham last year here in Baltimore. In this episode, she talks about how songs by Nina Simone, Bjork, and Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru have guided her artistically. Join us at the Big Ears Festival 2025!  Help support the show at our Patreon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scottish piper Brìghde Chaimbuel has quickly vaulted from the traditional-music scene to an international profile, in part thanks to her recent collaboration with saxophonist/composer Colin Stetson. In this episode, she discusses how music by Allan Macdonald, the Rhodopea Kaba Trio, and Steve Reich guided her own work. She'll appear at the Big Ears Festival in March 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nate Cross has become a powerful force behind the scenes of contemporary American music, onstage and on record as one of the key members of drone-rock ensemble Water Damage and as the proprietor of the respected creative-music label Astral Spirits. He discusses how music by Oneida, Jim O'Rourke, and The Necks shaped his course. Water Damage will be perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A household name for many decades amongst those with an interest in challenging, forward-thinking music, Fred Frith initially gained an audience through his work as the guitarist with 60's group Henry Cow, and has since had a prolific career as a player on many recordings under his own name as well as collaborations with players ranging from Henry Kaiser, to The Residents, to Richard Thompson, to John Zorn. He has appeared on over 400 recordings and continues to push forward artistically with each new release. We spoke to Frith in front of a live audience at the Big Ears Festival in Kn0xville in March of 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York City-based underground hip-hop artist Billy Woods might be best known as half of duo Armand Hammer, but is also well known as a solo artist. His 2024 releaseMaps, in which he worked with beatmaker and producer Kenny Segal, earned a “Best New Music” designation from Pitchfork. On this episode, in which Woods was interviewed before a live audience by guest host and former guest of the show Claire Rousay at the 2024 Big Ears Festival, he talks about how songs by Public Enemy, MF Doom, and Juggaknotts paved his way artistically.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Tent Show Radio, The Jerry Douglas Band showcase dazzling displays of exquisite musicianship in an hour of performances highlighting the dobro master's legendary career. 14-time Grammy winner Jerry Douglas is a bandleader, producer, session musician, instructor, and a very funny guy! He's produced over a hundred albums and he's featured on over 1,600 studio albums. He's a member of Alison Kraus & Union Station, co-bandleader for Transatlantic Sessions in the United Kingdom, founder for the Grammy winner bluegrass supergroup The Earls of Leicester, and he leads The Jerry Douglas Band. Since 2017, The Jerry Douglas Band has been forging new paths into the musical horizon with deep roots in bluegrass and folk that spreads out into the Americana and jazz landscapes. In 2021, The Jerry Douglas Band released an album, Leftover Feelings , with legendary singer songwriter John Hiatt. The album was nominated for a 2022 Grammy for “Best Americana Album,” and their previous record What If also received a Grammy nomination for “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.” They perform at some of the top US festivals such as Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Pilgrimage Music Festival, Big Ears Festival, DelFest, FreshGrass, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Merlefest, and many others. In addition to Douglas, The Jerry Douglas Band includes Daniel Kimbro on bass, Christian Sedelmyer on fiddle, and Mike Seal on guitar.       EPISODE CREDITSMichael Perry - Host Phillip Anich - Announcer Keenan McIntyre - Engineer Gina Nagro - Marketing Support FOLLOW BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA https://www.facebook.com/bigtopchautauqua/ https://www.instagram.com/bigtopchautauqua/ https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtopchautauqua https://twitter.com/BigBlueTent FOLLOW HOST MICHAEL PERRYhttps://sneezingcow.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sneezingcow https://www.instagram.com/sneezingcow/ https://twitter.com/sneezingcow/ 2024 TENT SHOW RADIO SPONSORSAshland Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.visitashland.com/   Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau - https://www.bayfield.org/   Bayfield County Tourism - https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/150/Tourism   The Bayfield Inn - https://bayfieldinn.com/   Cable Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cable4fun.com/   Kylmala Truss - https://www.kylmalatruss.com/  SPECIAL THANKSWisconsin Public Radio - https://www.wpr.org/  

Electronic-music producer Jlin works in the space where beatmaking and modern composition collide. In this episode, recorded live at the 2024 Big Ears Festival, she discusses how music by Luther Vandross, Missy Elliott and Al Jarreau shaped her work. Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jazz pianist and Steinway Artist Jason Moran, live from Big Ears Festival, talks hip hop, the next generation, the algorithm, Monk & Duke, visual art, and creative approach.

It's not just the eclectic and distinguished lineup that sets Big Ears Festival apart in 2024. It's the host city of Knoxville, Tennessee, that pairs Southern charm with world sounds to present a festival that's more comfortable than most, with world-class venues that are closer than what most other cities can offer. Listen as Ryan Wilusz and Brianna Paciorka – co-hosts, journalists and Big Ears veterans – talk about how to plan for this year's festival, including some changes that might surprise those who have been before.  >> Link: 10 must-see Big Ears concerts and what to know for this weekend's downtown music festival >> Link: Don't miss him! Tickets to Andre 3000's Knoxville shows are available separately from Big Ears "The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.  

Guitarist/singer/songwriter Beth Orton's work in the mid-1990's helped usher in a new era for both electronic and folk music by melding electronic sounds with acoustic instruments to achieve a warm and personal, but also boundary-pushing, sound that still feels modern almost 30 years later.  In this episode she talks about how songs by Sinead O'Connor, Sons of Kemet and Father John Misty shaped her own work. Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guitarist Marc Ribot possesses one of the most distinctive six-string sounds in American music, audible both in his work with collaborators like Tom Waits and John Zorn and in his own projects, such as his band Ceramic Dog. In this episode, he discusses pieces by Frantz Casseus, Ornette Coleman and Chocolate Genius. Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drummer Kassa Overall is steeped in jazz and has played with some of the greats, but he also came of age with hip-hop, and his polyglot solo work reflects a mix of those traditions. In this episode, he discusses how music by Ahmad Jamal, Digable Planets, and John Coltrane guided his art.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kurt Vile's loose, melodic style of indie rock has won him many friends and admirers over the past 15 years. On this episode, he talks about how tunes by Lou Reed, the Pixies and Thelonious Monk shaped his work. Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French musician Cécile Schott, who records as Colleen, has spent the past 20 years building a fantastic sound world from samples and loops, with albums on the esteemed Leaf and Thrill Jockey labels. In this episode, she talks about how music by Lee "Scratch" Perry, the Beatles and This Heat changed her life. Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.