With canceled visas, flight delays, and legendarily long airport security queues due to understaffing, it’s a miracle that everyone made it to Big Ears this year. Fans began speculating whether this would be the last time notorious plane-hater and headliner John Zorn would ever set foot on a plane again in his life. Instead, the seventy-two year old opted to skip the chaos entirely, asking guitarist Matt Hollenberg to drive him from New York City to Knoxville instead. Matt later played in Saturday’s Cobra, alongside drum icon Dave Lombardo (Slayer), and many others.
Once again in 2026, the streets of downtown Gay Street were abundant with avant-garde superstars left and right. One could not go fifty meters without running into the likes of Nels Cline buying a new red shirt for “Lovers,” Laurie Anderson on her way to the Lou Reed Guitar Drones, or David Byrne on his famous fold-up bicycle that he apparently takes everywhere.
The staff at local restaurants also get into the spirit sporting band-shirts, while buskers line the main drag – some are more talented than others. No shade to the melodica chick, the steel drum guy, or the speedy drummer practising his blast beats, but the dude channeling Prince kinda owned it this year. Plus there was a cosplay convention in town, so add a few furries and a guy dressed as Gumby to the mix…