The Roots and Bradford Cox and Lockett Pundt (of Deerhunter) jave been announced as part of the second wave of artist lineup announcement for Knoxville’s 2027 Big Ears Festival, returning onthe weekend of April 1 – 4 for its 14th edition.

The Roots join Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones, and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings separately ticketed concerts, open first to festival passholders.
Bradford Cox recently made headlines by reviving his Atlas Sound moniker and giving his first performance in seven years at last month’s Making Time. Next year at Big Ears, he reunites with Deerhunter bandmate Lockett Pundt for the sort of unique performance.

Saxophonist & flautist SHABAKA returns to Big Ears and will be joining William Parker and Hamid Drake for a performance (one of several SHABAKA ensembles set to perform over the weekend). Sheherazaad’s contemporary folk-pop synthesis is part of a new wave of South Asian diasporic soundscapes. Zoh Amba has graced Big Ears stages in the past with Brötzmann-esque sax playing, but this year she joins us in support of her tender and open-hearted new folk record, released earlier this year on Matador. Greenwich Village psych-folk provocateur Peter Stampfel (Holy Modal Rounders, The Fugs) introduces his new band, The Atomic Meta-Pagans to downtown Knoxville, while North Carolina’s Rosali brings her Crazy Horse-infused folk-rock into the fold.

Full Lineup (Alphabetical)
@ • Adam O’Farrill’s ELEPHANT • Adrian Sherwood • Amina Claudine Myers • Ana Roxanne • Andy Stott • Ava Mendoza and Hamid Drake • Avey Tare • Avishai Cohen – Big Vicious • Bang On A Can – Celebrates 40 Years • Beauty Pill • Bedouine • The Big Star Quintet • Bill Frisell Residency • Bob James • Brad Mehldau Trio • Bradford Cox and Lockett Pundt • Bronwyn • Carla dal Forno • Case Oats • Charlotte Mundy • Che Apalache • Chicha Libre • Chris Potter “Alive With Ghosts Today” • Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet • Cornelius • Courtney Barnett • Craig Taborn Trio • Dagmar Zuniga • Daniel Lanois • Dave Harrington, Jay Bellerose & Billy Mohler • David Murray Quartet • Dawn of Midi • Diles Que No Me Maten • Dinner Party (Robert Glasper / Terrace Martin / Kamasi Washington/9th Wonder) • Dirty Projectors (solo) • Discovery Zone • Efrim Manuel Menuck and Tashi Dorji Present BLOOM AND RUIN • El Khat • Ettore Buzzini • Fabiano do Nascimento • Finom • Gillian Welch & David Rawlings play Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning • goat (jp) • Greg Tardy • Gustavo Santaolalla • The Hands Free • Hannibal Buress • Helado Tropical • Helen • Hemphill Stringtet with Ursula Oppens • Horse Lords • How Black Music Took Over the World: A Melvin Gibbs Curation • HYUKOH • Ida • Ingrid Laubrock’s Grammy Season + DoYeon Kim • Jakob Bro / Joe Lovano / Midori Takada • James Brandon Lewis Quartet • James Elkington and Nathan Salsburg • Jasper Llewellyn • JD Pinkus Triptych • Jeff Parker ETA IVtet • Jeff Tweedy • Jeremiah Chiu • Jessica Pavone String Ensemble • Jim James • Jim White Trio • Joan Shelley • Joanne Robertson • John Carroll Kirby • Josh Johnson ANIMATIVE • Judith Berkson Trio • Kahil ElZabar & David Murray • Kaki King • Kali Malone Presents Burning Song • Kalia Vandever & Dave Harrington • Kalia Vandever Quartet • Karen Y Los Remedios • Karly Hartzman • KatzPascale • Ken Vandermark • Kevin Morby • Kronos Quartet with Peni Candra Rini • L’Rain • Leenalchi • Lia Kohl • Liam Kazar • Linda May Han Oh • Lovano / Makhathini / Morgan / Cyrille • Lucy Railton • Luke Schneider Curation: Chrome Universal – Modern Pedal Steel Guitar • Magic Tuber Stringband • MANAS • Manu Delago & Max ZT • Marcus Gilmore • Marina Herlop • Marisa Anderson • Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble • Matthew Shipp • Mavis Staples • Maya Beiser & Evan Ziporyn: Bowie Cello Symphonic • Meat Puppets • Melvins • Mexican Institute of Sound • Midori Takada • Min Xiao-Fen & Julian Kytasty • Mon Rovîa • Moor Mother • Mount Eerie • Mouse on Mars • My New Band Believe • Nadia Sirota • Natalie Merchant with Erik Della Penna • Nathaniel Rateliff • Nduduzo Makhathini • Nels Cline • Nicole Mitchell and Joe Westerlund • Nirosta Steel • NOMON • Norah Jones • One Leg One Eye • Oneohtrix Point Never • Oruã • Otto Benson • Pachyman • Pamela Z • Parker Ramsay & Miranda Cuckson • Penguin Cafe • Peter Stampfel & the Atomic Meta-Pagans • Petra Haden Sings King Crimson • Pranksters South • Ragamala returns! 12 Hours of Ragas • Ranky Tanky • Robert Glasper • The Roots • Rosali • Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal • Ryan Clackner Quartet • Ryan Clackner’s Existential Dread • Ryley Walker • Salami Rose Joe Louis • Sara Serpa • SHABAKA with Austin Williamson • SHABAKA with William Parker and Hamid Drake • Shardik • Sheherazaad • Sheila Kay Adams + Nest of Singing Birds • Sierra Hull • Sleaford Mods • SML • Star Moles • Sumie Kaneko • Suzanne Ciani • Sylvan Esso • Sylvie Courvoisier TRIO feat. Drew Gress & Kenny Wollesen • This Is the Kit • Thundercat • Tim Bernardes • Tomeka Reid • Trio of Bloom (Nels Cline / Marcus Gilmore / Craig Taborn) • Tristan Perich • Tyondai Braxton • U.S. Girls • Ursula Oppens • Valentina Magaletti • Valerie June • Vanishing Twin • VariegOrchestra • Vieux Farka Touré & Roberto Fonseca • Vijay Iyer Residency • Visible Cloaks • Wednesday • Weyes Blood • Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, Macie Stewart • William Parker 75th Birthday Residency • The Womack Sisters • Wyatt Ellis • Yasuaki Shimizu • Yeah NO • Yilian Cañizares • Zig Zag Trio (Will Calhoun, Melvin Gibbs, Vernon Reid) • Zoh Amba

Order tickets for Big Ears HERE