John Paul Jones Announces Rare Solo Performance At 2020 Big Ears Festival

Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones has announced that he will perform a rare solo set at Knoxville, TN’s Big Ears Festival which takes place March 26th–29th, 2020.

Jones’ upcoming performance will not merely be a smattering of Led Zeppelin’s greatest hits, or even a run-through of Jones’ two solo albums, Zooma or The Thunderthief. Rather, his appearance at Big Ears will be a once-in-a-lifetime improvisational experience created entirely in the moment on multiple instruments.

According to the announcement via a press release, Big Ears “Will host the rare opportunity to experience John Paul Jones’ fertile, musical imagination as it unfolds – grand piano, mandolin, and electronics, in an improvised solo performance responding only to the sounds and textures that emerge.”

Additionally, Jones will perform a set with his recently-formed duo, Sons of Chipotle with Finnish cellist Anssi Karttunen.

Big Ears will take place at a mix of venues across Knoxville, and also will also feature two unique sets from Patti Smith, including one performance with her band and another of her Words and Music program that features poetry readings from her three memoirs. Other 2020 performers include Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) presenting a live soundtrack for Andy Warhol‘s film Kiss, Steve Gunn (Kurt Vile & The Violators), Bill Nance (Body/Head), John Tuscinski (Gunn-Truscinski Duo), Thundercat, and many more.

Tickets and details for Big Ears Festival are available here.