The Overday, Castor, 40th of Hagwinter, 524 M.E.

 

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all. Today, the Big Ears organization released the list of artists scheduled to perform on the first day of the 2025 festival (Bridge of Dread, Castor, 14th Day of Vernal, or Thursday, March 27 to you). 

In my experience of five years attending this festival (2025 will be my sixth time), you can comfortably take in only about four sets on the opening night, which typically starts around 6:00 pm, and five if you really hustle and don't mind arriving a few minutes late. But this year, the promoters have announced 26 sets for opening night alone, and many, if not most, are must-see artists:

Beth Gibbons (Portishead)
Marissa Nadler
Yo La Tengo 
Tortoise
Alan Sparhawk (Low)
Charles Lloyd Sangam Trio
ganavya
DARKSIDE (featuring Nicolas Jaar)
Nanocluster (Immersion/Suss)
William Tyler
Steve Roach
Rich Ruth
Tigran Hamasyan
Barry Altchul's Axiom 5
Ambrose Akinmusire
Bela Fleck
Phil Cook
Joy Guidry
Carlos Nino & Friends
Sunny War
Astrid Sonne
Kate Soper
Shelley Hirsch
Username Password (Wayne White)
Dedicated Men of Zion
RB Morris & William Wright

I feel sorriest for the single-day passholders - you buy a ticket for 26 artists, but you'll only get to see four of them. Of course, there's going to be scheduling conflicts for all of us and a lot of tough decisions to be made. 

If I had my pick of four of the above artists to see and there were no scheduling conflicts (or if I could figure out how to somehow be two places at once at the same time), I would pick Yo La Tengo, Tortoise, DARKSIDE, and Nanocluster, with Charles Lloyd, Beth Gibbons, ganavya, and William Tyler as my backup, "safety" list. Of course, if fate has me winding up seeing Alan Sparhawk, Steve Roach, Rich Ruth, and Joy Guidry, I couldn't complain - it would still be a great night of music. The only artists for whom I have little interest are the last five or so on the list, but that's just me.

Because YOU are important to me, I made a Spotify Playlist of the Thursday night performers. I culled their most recent or most representative releases down to 100 songs, or roughly about four per artist. Here you go, and enjoy!    

Anyway and again, happy Thanksgiving! May all beings be equally nourished.