Bryson Seabold, Matthew Motley, Paul Parris, and Melony Dodson relive Big Ears 2026. Surprises, aha moments, favorite performances, thoughts on the new venues, and overall impressions. This was a festival to remember!

Melony Dodson talks with MacArthur Fellow and multi Grammy Award-winning musician, Chris Thile, in Krutch Park in downtown Knoxville.

Melony Dodson talks with Adam Sliwinski, a member of the Grammy Award-winning percussion quartet, So Percussion. They are returning to the Big Ears Festival in 2026, performing a total of three sets.

Melony Dodson talks with singer songwriter, Trisha Gene Brady, who will perform new songs inspired by the Fifty Years in Cades Cove Collection, located in the UT Libraries' digital archives. The debut performance is Wednesday, March 25th at 7pm at the Knoxville Museum of Art. This event is free and open to the public and is in partnership with the Big Ears Festival, as well as the UT Libraries series: Boundless: Artists in the Archives

Melony Dodson talks with Donald Nally, conductor of the multi Grammy-Award winning choral ensemble, The Crossing. They will perform David Lang's Poor Hymnal at the 2026 Big Ears Festival.

Matthew Motley, Paul Parris, Melony Dodson, and WUTK's Bryson Seabold talk about their top picks for Big Ears 2026. Hear strategies for how to maximize your experience at Big Ears without exhausting yourself, where to grab some quick bites, favorite venues, and "pearls of wisdom" from some Knoxville natives. If you're wondering where to begin with your festival planning, this podcast is the perfect starting point.