Here Are All The Free Big Ears 2025 Shows in Knoxville

Are you Big Ears curious? Did you miss out on buying a pass before those sold out?

You're in luck - here's a list of free events presented by the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville.

This year the free community events will be at the Knoxville Museum of Art, Visit Knoxville Visitor's Center, and the Blue Note Lounge.

There will also be an additional free show on Sunday, March 30 at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium, but this show must be reserved in advance.

Wednesday March 26

Thursday March 27

Friday March 28

Saturday March 29

Sunday March 30

Wednesday March 26

Knoxville Museum of Art

• 6PM - Donald Brown: Boundless

  • Jazz pianist presents new composition

Thursday March 27

Knoxville Museum of Art

• 6PM - Fred Moten & Brandon Lopez

  • Poetry & jazz

Visit Knoxville Visitors Center

• 2PM - Essential Tremors: William Tyler

  • Live podcast recording by Essential Tremors with William Tyler, the cinematic guitarist. Tyler will be performing 3/27 at The Point

• 3:30PM - Knoxville: A Musical History with Jack Neely

  • Knoxville historian Jack Neely gives a deep dive into Knoxville's music history

• 5PM - Critic’s Picks with Ann Powers, Nate Chinen, Ashley Kahn, and Marcus J. Moore

  • Music journalists preview the Big Ears Festival weekend

Friday March 28

Knoxville Museum of Art

• 11AM - Laughter: The Best Medicine Playshop w/Laraaji & Arji Oceananda

  • Exploration of laughter as a health therapy and relaxation method

• 1:30PM - Brìghde Chaimbeul

  • Celtic experimentalism & Scottish smallpipes

• 4PM - Kalia Vandever

  • Jazz trombonist

• 6:30PM - eucademix (Yuka Honda)

  • Electronic solo project from the avante-garde & indie rock artist

• 9PM - Carlos Niño Salon Night 1: Subtle Movements Trio

  • Avant-garde meditational jazz & stuff

Visit Knoxville Visitors Center

• 11AM - Essential Tremors: Ian Lynch

  • Live podcast recording by Essential Tremors with Ian Lynch, founder of the Dublin band Lankum. Lankum will be performing 3/29 at the Mill & Mine

• 12:30PM - Conversation: Dawn Richard & Marcus J. Moore

  • Musician Dawn Richard speaks with journalist & author Marcus J. Moore. Richard will be performing 3/28 at the Bijou

Blue Note Lounge

• 10AM - Conversation: Ambrose Akinmusire and Nate Chinen

  • Musician Ambrose Akinmusire talks with jazz critic Nate Chinen. Akinmusire will be performing 3/27 at the First Presbyterian Chapel & 3/28 at the Bijou

• 11:30AM - Conversation: Don Was and Charles Lloyd

  • Blue Note Records president Don Was talks with jazz musician Charles Lloyd. Lloyd will be performing 3/27 at the Tennessee Theatre.

Saturday March 29

Knoxville Museum of Art

• 11AM - Laughter: The Best Medicine Playshop w/Laraaji & Arji Oceananda

  • Exploration of laughter as a health therapy and relaxation method

• 1:30PM - Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves

  • Roots/Bluegrass string players

• 4PM - June McDoom

  • Singer-songwriter incorporating dreamy folk with early soul & reggae sounds.

• 6:30PM - Fred Moten & Brandon Lopez

  • Poetry & jazz

• 9PM - Carlos Niño Salon Night 2: First Time Trio

  • Avant-garde meditational jazz & stuff

Visit Knoxville Visitors Center

• 10AM - Conversation: Lonnie Holley & Grayson Currin

  • Musician Lonnie Holley talks with journalist Grayson Currin. Holley will be performing 3/30 at Mill & Mine

• 1:30PM - Essential Tremors: Victoria Shen

  • Live podcast recording by Essential Tremors with experimental artist Victoria Shen. Shen will be performing 3/28 at The Standard

Blue Note Lounge

• 10:30AM - Conversation: Julien Baker & TORRES with Ann Powers

  • NPR Music critic Ann Powers speaks with Julien Baker and TORRES about their new music projects. Julien Baker and TORRES will perform 3/29 at the Civic Auditorium

• 12PM - Conversation: Don Was and Ashley Kahn

  • Blue Note Records president Don Was speaks with writer Ashley Kahn about the label and record-making

Sunday March 30

Knoxville Civic Auditorium

• 5PM - Dedicated Men of Zion & Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir

  • Gospel ensemble show but you have to reserve tickets in advance here https://bigearsfestival.frontgatetickets.com/event/euc57sljnp38mmh2

Knoxville Museum of Art

• 1:15PM - Larry & Joe

  • Bluegrass fusion of Appalachian & Venezuelan folk music

• 3:45PM - Mivos Quartet

  • Modern string quartet

Visit Knoxville Visitors Center

• 11AM - Dust-to-Digital Presents: Terika Dean & Lance Ledbetter

  • Lance Ledbetter, founder of the music archival group & label Dust-to-Digital speaks with Terika Dean of the Blues Foundation to discuss the importance of music preservation

Blue Note Lounge

• 10AM - 1965: Sound, Fire & Revolution w/Nels Cline, Melvin Gibbs, Chad Taylor and Nate Chinen

  • Conversation about 1965 as a pivotal moment for music and American politics & culture

• 11:30AM - Guitar Talk and Round Robin Performance

  • Joel Harrison leads a panel about the impact of the electric guitar with Mary Halvorson, Brandon Ross, and Nels Cline leading to a improvisational round of performances with Gregory Uhlmann, Wendy Eisenberg, and more.