12 Highlights of 2025: A 2026 Big Ears Preview

<p>In this special edition of <em><strong>Big Ears: Conversations About Music</strong></em>, four deeply engaged listeners -<strong>Ayana Contreras, Piotr Orlov, Liz Pelly, </strong>and<strong> Steve Smith</strong> - survey the sounds that moved them in 2025—offering a preview of just a few of the highlights in store for Big Ears 2026. The conversation encompasses a fiercely prolific Downtown innovator (<strong>John Zorn</strong>), a wide embrace of the contemporary classical landscape (<strong>JACK Quartet, Hania Rani</strong>); fiercely independent rock bands (<strong>Deerhoof, YHWH Nailgun</strong>); folk music deeply rooted in history and identity (<strong>Haley Heynderickx, Ryan Davis &amp; The Roadhouse Band</strong>) gospel music ripe for the dance floor (<strong>Annie &amp; The Caldwells</strong>), two vastly different fusions of electronics and improvisation (<strong>Patricia Brennan</strong> &amp; <strong>Flying Lotus</strong>) and two trumpeters from Baltimore &amp; Chicago whose sound is deeply informed by local community and collaborators (<strong>Brandon Woody</strong> &amp; <strong>Marquis Hill</strong>). This episode offers the kind of snapshot of outsider music scenes that <em>only</em> Big Ears can offer. Explore the common and contrasting musical DNA that defines our ethos. Give it a listen!</p><p><br></p><p><u>Tracks Played in this Episode:</u></p><p><strong>Annie &amp; the Caldwells</strong></p><ul><li><p>I Made It</p></li><li><p>Don’t You Hear Me Calling</p></li></ul><p><strong>Marquis Hill</strong></p><ul><li><p>I Promise to Listen</p></li><li><p>The Cool</p></li></ul><p><strong>Brandon Woody</strong></p><ul><li><p>Real Love, Pt. I</p></li><li><p>We, Ota Benga</p></li></ul><p><strong>John Zorn (Masada / related works)</strong></p><ul><li><p>Jachin (Masada Quartet – <em>Live at Tonic 2001</em>)</p></li><li><p>Sacred Beasts (John Zorn &amp; Dave Lombardo – <em>Memories, Dreams &amp; Reflections</em>)</p></li></ul><p><strong>JACK Quartet</strong></p><ul><li><p>Conjurations (from <em>Necronomicon</em>, <em>Complete String Quartets</em>)</p></li><li><p>Spectral Waves (from <em>Waves &amp; Particles</em>)</p></li></ul><p><strong>Hania Rani</strong></p><ul><li><p>Chilling Bambino (from <em>Ghosts</em>)</p></li><li><p>Piano Concerto “Non-Fiction”: I</p></li></ul><p><strong>YHWH Nailgun</strong></p><ul><li><p>Penetrator</p></li><li><p>Castrato Raw (Fullback)</p></li></ul><p><strong>Flying Lotus</strong></p><ul><li><p>Ingo Swann</p></li><li><p>Arkestry</p></li></ul><p><strong>Patricia Brennan</strong></p><ul><li><p>Palo de Oros (Suit of Coins)</p></li><li><p>Antilia</p></li></ul><p><strong>Deerhoof</strong></p><ul><li><p>Kingtoe</p></li></ul><p><strong>Haley Heynderickx</strong></p><ul><li><p>Song for Alicia</p></li><li><p>This Morning I Am Born Again</p></li></ul><p><strong>Ryan Davis &amp; the Roadhouse Band</strong></p><ul><li><p>New Threats From the Soul (Studio)</p></li><li><p>New Threats From the Soul (Live in Cambridge)</p></li></ul>