The initial line-up for the 2015 Big Ears Festival has been announced, and featured among the performers are several Nonesuch Records artists: Laurie Anderson, Rhiannon Giddens, Sam Amidon, and Kronos Quartet, the festival's artists-in-residence for 2015. Big Ears will be held in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, March 27–29, 2015, at the historic Tennessee and Bijou Theatres, the intimate Square Room, the Knoxville Museum of Art and more.

Previously announced artists-in-residence Kronos Quartet will perform several concerts throughout the festival weekend, including collaborations with several guest artists. One such collaboration will see the Laurie Anderson performing her Kronos collaboration Landfall, inspired by her experience of Hurricane Sandy. Other Kronos collaborators will include Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, The National guitarist / composer and Big Ears alum Bryce Dessner, and 2014 Polaris Music Prize recipient Tanya Tagaq. Composer Terry Riley, whose work has been championed by Kronos for decades, will also perform at the festival in celebration of his 80th birthday year.

This year, Big Ears will also celebrate its Appalachian roots with performances by Sam Amidon, whose new album reimagined folk songs, Lily-O, was released earlier this fall, and Rhiannon Giddens, a co-founding member of Carolina Chocolate Drops who performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with her collaborating partners in The New Basement Tapes last night. Jazz guitarist and composer Bill Frisell, who performs on Amidon's new album, will also appear at the festival.

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, details on all Big Ears interactive projects and activities, and more will be revealed leading into the festival.

Weekend passes will go on sale this Friday, November 14, at 12pm ET. 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. Additionally, Big Ears will host exclusive opportunities for students to interact with festival artists and attend special workshops.

For additional details, visit bigearsfestival.com.