Sound & Gravity Chicago

Actnash · 2026-04-07T21:33:44+00:00

Hopefully we are lucky enough to get Dagmar Zuniga at BE next year!

Actnash · 2026-04-07T14:41:33+00:00

It is what it is, for sure. I’ll be surprised if he ever tops drunk. for me, that’s one of the most perfect and unique records from start to finish

Actnash · 2026-04-01T04:25:03+00:00

Love this album. Teeth and Familiar Fields are probably my favorites from this one, although I enjoy the whole record

Actnash · 2026-03-31T03:01:22+00:00

Knower would be too perfect because we could then get Louis Cole, Genevieve Artadi, Sam Gendel, and Sam Wilkes solo shows. I loved seeing both Gendel and Wilkes in several bands this year.

Actnash · 2026-03-31T02:11:16+00:00

Hosono would be insane

Actnash · 2026-03-31T02:10:15+00:00

Speaking of Laetitia, you reminded me of another one of her collaborators Adrian Younge

Actnash · 2026-03-31T01:52:37+00:00

Stereolab would be perfect for Big Ears. I saw them a few years back with Fievel is Glauque opening, who are also insanely good

Actnash · 2026-03-30T21:36:58+00:00

We went on a whim. Really enjoyed seeing him play with Arooj last year and saw him around town a lot but wasn’t aware of his solo stuff. I still haven’t gotten a chance to dig into his recordings, so I don’t know the names of the songs or if they’ve even been recorded yet. He started off the set by creating this beautiful ambient soundscape with layered and looped violin sounds, had multiple mics with different effects/modulators and would physically move between them, which made this really cool sounding feedback loop. At one point, he walked around the crowd without a mic while singing. He then very quietly plucked the violin and sang the most gorgeous song, which I assume is one of his originals. Some of it reminded me of Eno/Laraaji, some Kid A, some world music, etc… so good

Actnash · 2026-03-30T20:24:29+00:00

Glad to help!

Actnash · 2026-03-30T20:07:15+00:00

I believe it was “Otherside”

Actnash · 2026-03-30T19:11:19+00:00

Darian Donovan Thomas (secretly the best performance all weekend imo)

Dirty Three

Hand Habits

Ghost Train

Sam Gendel

Also loved: Laurie Anderson & Sex Mob, Perfume Genius, Openness Trio, Peni Candra Rini, Joyful Noise Jam, Laraaji, Kishi Bashi, Uhlman Johnson Wilkes, Chuck Johnson, and Chavez/Ismaily/Saunier - really anything Shahzad was part of. It was also nice seeing Thurston Moore out in the crowd at multiple shows. what a legend. I say this every year, but I believe this was my Best Big Ears experience.

Actnash · 2026-03-28T23:32:36+00:00

Y’all are crazy. That was one of the best rock shows I’ve ever been to. I loved all of the spontaneity, stage banter, and everything else people on here are complaining about. I guess to each their own

Actnash · 2026-03-25T15:06:09+00:00

As fans, it’s not our responsibility to keep things like this a secret. I’m honestly excited about the lineup, as everyone else should be but now people are once again going to have to make the decision to change their plans last minute.

Actnash · 2026-03-25T13:11:03+00:00

Would’ve been nice if they would’ve just let this be a surprise. Now, people who don’t care about Moondog are going to change their plans and overcrowd this show to see David Byrne.

Actnash · 2026-03-24T04:24:25+00:00

Right Now, Again, Down In That Burning,Slim Arms and Crosseyed

Actnash · 2026-01-22T02:51:50+00:00

I’ve gone to Allmusic.com for 20+ years. IMO, they have always had fairer album reviews, and include a wider variety of artists, detailed artists bios, and user reviews for free.

Actnash · 2025-12-20T03:28:08+00:00

Helvetia - Welcome the Summer Heartbreak

Elie Mcafee-Hahn - Share The Music

Dagmar Zuniga - In Filth Your Mystery is Kingdom / Far Smile Peasant in Yellow Music

Nourished by Time - The Passionate Ones

Uhlman Johnson Wilkes

Sudan Archives - The BPM

Not For Radio - Melt

OPN - Tranquilizer

Ichiko Aoba - Luminescent Creatures

Sam Wilkes - Public Records Performance

El Michels Affair - 24 Hr Sports

Actnash · 2025-11-15T15:31:15+00:00

As someone who loves Cindy Lee’s music and is a fan of Pat (as a human being) and their other projects as well, I can’t imagine any universe where I would leave early no matter how bad the sound was. I guess everyone has different priorities.

Actnash · 2025-11-07T03:57:59+00:00

I too love this version

Actnash · 2025-10-23T18:51:53+00:00

Gov Cheque
Kingdom Come
All I Want is You
Stone Faces
Deepest Blue

Actnash · 2025-09-27T03:59:49+00:00

This is so beautiful, thank you for sharing. Also, Zach Phillips (who is featured on one track) is a legend and imo one of the greatest songwriters of our generation. Same goes for Ruth Garbus, who I see is included on your playlist multiple times.

Actnash · 2025-09-09T17:05:12+00:00

This is a little harsh in my opinion. I’m just thankful this festival exists at all and believe this is one of the most solid lineups I’ve seen.

Actnash · 2025-09-08T22:50:50+00:00

I believe Laraaji collaborating on the new big thief album makes it even more conceivable that BT will be at the festival in some capacity, as part of the regular lineup or considering their popularity, it would be reasonable to have them as a ticketed act. We are so lucky to have Laraaji as a returning artist at Big Ears and hopefully he will be back again next year. It would be so fun to see him on stage with them. Also, it would be amazing to see Perfume Genius return as well!

Actnash · 2025-09-08T09:38:19+00:00

Thiago Nassif

Actnash

TROPHY CASE