Full Line-Up of Big Ears Festival Released, Kronos Quartet Serve as Artist-In-Residence, Max Richter to Perform Vivaldi with The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Laurie Anderson, Ben Frost and More

The full line-up for Big Ears Festival, the eclectic, avant-guard music festival in Tennessee, has been announced. Notable acts include Laurie Anderson, Ben Frost, Jamie xx, Swans, Perfume Genius, Bryce Dessner of The National and Wilco’s Nels Cline. Max Richter will also be performing with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra with Kronos Quartet serving as the festival’s artists-in-residence

Big Ears Festival is known for their diverse music selection, with artist from a wide variety of genres, including indie rock, avant-garde, jazz and classical music.

Other acts include tUnE-yArDs, Grouper, Amen Dunes, Director Jim Jarmusch’s new musical project -- SQÜRL, The Bad Plus, Sam Amidon, Rhiannon Giddens and Nosaj Thing. Also, legendary composers Richter, Terry Riley, and Harold Budd are also included on the initial lineup. Richter will perform his composition, "Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Recomposed," with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Artists-in-residence, Kronos Quartet, will perform several concerts throughout the festival weekend, including collaborations with guest artists including Dessner, Anderson, Cline and Polaris Music Prize winner Tanya Tagaq. The Kronos Quartet is considered the most celebrated new music ensemble in the world

Another component of the 2015 festival will be the opportunity for music to interface with film, visual art and more. Big Ears will also offer special discussion sessions with the artists and a variety of special events and secret shows. Lineup additions and more information will be revealed as the festival gets closer.

The festival will be March 27-29 in Knoxville, Tennessee. A portion of each ticket sold will benefit music and arts education programs through Knoxville’s own Joy of Music School and Community School of the Arts. Big Ears will also host exclusive opportunities for students to interact with festival artists and attend special workshops. To learn more about the artist, the festival or to purchase tickets, visit the Big Ears website.