Big Ears 2010: The roll-out begins!
From AC Entertainment, the patriarchs of the Big Ears Festival:
For Immediate Release
Big Ears Festival Returns in 2010
March 26-27-28
Composer Terry Riley Confirmed As Artist In Residence
KNOXVILLE, TN. The BIG EARS FESTIVAL is proud to announce another weekend of visionary music, exploratory art, and southern hospitality for March 26, 27, and 28 in historic Knoxville, Tennessee.
This time, BIG EARS is especially proud to host the legendary American composer TERRY RILEY as Artist in Residence for the weekend with a series of
concerts throughout the weekend celebrating Riley’s 75th Birthday year. In addition, the weekend will feature an exciting array of artists and performers from the worlds of rock, jazz, classical, and avant garde music along with installations, exhibitions, interactive experiences, talks, and workshops.
One of the most influential musicians and composers of the past century, TERRY RILEY’s impact and influence on contemporary music and art cannot be overstated. In 1964, his revolutionary composition IN C launched the Minimalist movement in music, his influence still heard today in the work of Philip Glass, Steve Reich, John Adams and other classical composers. His subsequent early works, A Rainbow in Curved Air and Poppy Nogood, with their kaleidoscopic, psychedelic atmospheres, sent waves across the musical worlds of the 1960s, strongly reflected in the music of The Who, Pink Floyd, and other rock bands of the time. That influence continues today, in the music of Radiohead and Animal Collective and even The National and Bon Iver. It’s no surprise that TERRY RILEY was recently selected by the London Times as one of the “1000 Makers of the 20th Century.”
“It’s a tremendous honor to have Terry Riley participate in our festival this year. It’s a dream come true.” says Big Ears founder, Ashley Capps, also a creator and producer of the renown Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.
RILEY himself will perform in several different concerts of his work during the weekend, with a variety of musicians. Also, the Calder String Quartet will present a program of his work. And a sure highlight of the weekend will come when many of the artists performing during the weekend join together for an unforgettable performance of IN C, “one of the definitive masterpieces of the 20th century.”
The full BIG EARS 2010 line up will be announced and tickets will be available in early December.
Read our cover story on the inaugural Big Ears Festival from back in February: Click here