IARC @ BIG EARS FESTIVAL // KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE THIS WEEKEND
A WHOLE BUNCH OF IARC @
BIG EARS FESTIVAL, KNOXVILLE TN
THIS WEEKEND
Thursday March 26th
SML - 815pm @ The Greyhound
SML XL (special guests TBA) - 945pm @ The Greyhound
Friday March 27th
Anna Butterss & Ben Lumsdaine - 11am @ Boyd's Jig & Reel
Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes - 115pm @ First Presbyterian Sanctuary
Jeff Parker Expansion Trio - 330pm @ Mill & Mine
Rob Mazurek's Radical Chimeras - 6pm @UT Downtown Gallery
SML - 8pm @ The Greyhound
SML XL (special guests TBA) - 930pm @ The Greyhound
Saturday March 28th
Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer - 11am @ Boyd's Jig & Reel
Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends - 3pm @ The Greyhound
Rob Mazurek's Radical Chimeras - 6pm @UT Downtown Gallery
SML - 1030pm @ The Greyhound
SML XL (special guests TBA) - 12am @ The Greyhound
Sunday March 29th
Essential Tremors: Tom Skinner (conversation) - 10am @ Regas Square
Sam Wilkes solo - 11am @ Boyd's Jig & Reel
Chicago Underground Duo - 1pm @ The Standard
Gregory Uhlmann - 215pm @ Jackson Terminal
Tom Skinner - 6pm @ The Standard
Chrysanthemum Tea
with International Anthem
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Mornings
March 27th-29th, 2026
11am to 1pm
Boyd's Jig & Reel
101 S Central St, Knoxville, TN
Morning sun, community, complementary flower tea, deep listenings to new and upcoming IARC releases, and surprise performances by artists from the IARC family in the convivial confines of the Jig & Reel.
Friday March 27, 11am - 1pm
Anna Butterss & Ben Lumsdaine
Saturday March 28, 11am - 1pm
Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer
Sunday March 29, 11am - 1pm
Sam Wilkes solo
Sustaining Independant Labels (panel discussion)
with Scottie McNiece, Jake Saunders, Adam Downey,
Amelia Meath, Yulun Wang & Liz Pelly
Sunday March 29, 1030am @ Post-Modern Exchange
It seems like every week there is a new grim headline about the fate of independent music: legacy labels and publishers being sold off to the majors, rights organizations signing away catalogs as training data for AI companies. Less often do we see headlines about what exactly is going right for independent music, which is what we’ll cover here. What is working for independent record labels in 2026? In this conversation, label reps from International Anthem, Joyful Noise, Northern Spy and more will share what actually sustains their operations, and best practices for supporting independent artists and labels today.
Moderated by Liz Pelly, with Scottie McNiece (International Anthem), Jake Saunders (Joyful Noise), Adam Downey (Northern Spy), Yulun Wang (Pi Recordings) and Amelia Meath (Psychic Hotline).
Info.
BIG EARS RECORD FAIR
Friday-Sunday @ Post-Modern Exchange
For the first time, Big Ears Festival will host a record fair: a four-day celebration of the creative community behind the music. From March 26–29, sixteen visionary record labels (so far) will transform the new PostModern Sound Exchange venue space into a living archive of the festival’s creative spirit, offering specially curated selections that spotlight performing artists alongside deep catalog discoveries, limited editions, rare vinyl, and artfully produced releases.
International Anthem's table at the Big Ears record fair will include rare and out-of-print items, and select items for heavy discounts. Come see us!
