The biggest problem many Big Ears 2024 music fans will have is not whether to buy a pass for the March 21-24 festival, but rather, how to wait that long without succumbing to embarrassing displays of anticipation.
As is the usual practice, Big Ears is announcing a Second Round of line-up additions that should clinch the deal. Headlining the announcement is Jon Batiste, a musician who defines “multi-faceted talent.” His five 2022 Grammy Awards include Album of the Year for We Are, plus he won an Oscar and Golden Globe for his score for Pixar’s animated film Soul. Batiste released his latest album, World Music Radio, in August and is the subject of a soon-to-be released documentary film, American Symphony.
Marc Ribot’s 70th birthday celebratory performances at the festival were a big deal, but this year the guitarist joins forces with keyboardist John Medeski and drummer Joe Russo. Russo’s newly formed ensemble, the Selcouth Quartet (Russo, Stuart Bogie, Jonathan Goldberger & Jon Shaw) will also perform.
We’ll be looking for Evan Lurie and his quintet featuring the sounds of the bandoneon. The quintet will also present the chamber music work Selling Water by the Side of the River. Lurie, of course, was a co-founder of the Lounge Lizards with his brother, John Lurie, the multi-faceted painter, actor, and musician.
Returning from earlier festivals is the storytelling genius of Bonnie “Prince” Billy (Will Oldham). Don’t miss the unique folk/classical of Leyla McCalla and a performance from Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses fame in celebration of the 30th anniversary of her beloved solo record, Hips and Makers. She’ll be joined by cellist Jane Scarpatoni – her musical foil on the original recording.
Other additions to the line-up include the Chinese American pipa master Min Xiao-Fen collaborating with River Guerguerian for a program of original live scores to Chinese silent film classics Romance of the Fruit Peddler and Romance of the Western Chamber; multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi presents a program of solo piano; and Paul Lazar performs the spoken-word and movement solo Cage Shuffle based on texts from composer John Cage with choreography by Annie-B Parson.
New age artist Laraaji and world-renowned tabla player Suphala perform a program of ambient and world music blending celestial sounds and rhythmic beats as part of the King Britt-curated Blacktronika program; Slauson Malone 1 (the musical project and performance piece of Jasper Marsalis) explores the intersections of pop music and performance art; and Ka Baird weaves together experimental electronic and folk elements into a captivating sonic tapestry.
Big Ears Festival passes are on sale now at bigearsfestival.org/passes.