The Gig

The Gig

The Road Not Taken at Big Ears

Considering what I missed, before I reckon with the rest.

Nate Chinen's avatar
Nate Chinen
Mar 31, 2025
∙ Paid
Josh Johnson with SML at the 2025 Big Ears Festival. (Taryn Ferro / Big Ears)

The Big Ears Festival can only be experienced as a blur.

I don’t mean that literally, despite what the image above implies. In my experience, it’s actually the opposite: the vibe of the fest imparts a sort of hyperclarity to every musical encounter. The quality of listening is …

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Nate Chinen.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Nate Chinen · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture