The collaborative nature of Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee, will take center stage March 28 as The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton present a live debut of their AVTT/PTTN collaboration as a separately ticketed add-on.
Anyone not attending the festival can attend, though passholders will have early access and “preferred pricing for reserved seats,” according to a Big Ears news release.
Remaining tickets will be offered to the general public, the release said.
AVTT/PTTN − the title of their collaboration and the album, dropping Nov. 14 − is “one of the most unexpected collaborations of this (or any) year,” according to Consequence of Sound. Two singles, “Eternal Love” and “Heaven’s Breath,” are already garnering positive reviews from critics.
Hailing from just over the mountains in North Carolina, the folk-rocking Avett Brothers are four-time Grammy nominees and have toured for decades all over the world, earning them a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association.
Patton, in addition to his time with alternative acts like Faith No More and Mr. Bungle, has collaborated with Big Ears alumnus John Zorn, who is returning to the festival in 2026. Patton has composed music for films, including “A Place Beyond The Pines,” and started his own record label, Ipecac Recordings.
“We have saved our virgin live performance for a worthy suitor … and they have Big Ears,” Patton said in the news release. “We are delighted to be playing at this exciting and forward-thinking festival.”
AVTT/PTTN joins two additional separately ticketed events for Big Ears Festival 2026. Headliners Robert Plant and David Byrne, who will present two performances of “Who is the Sky?,” are also included on the lineup as add-ons.
Scott and Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers perform near the front of the catwalk at Common Ground Music Festival on July 13, 2013.
Just like with AVTT/PTTN, festival passholders will have early access to preferred pricing and reserved seating before public tickets go on sale.
“Exact days of the presale and on-sale will be announced by Big Ears within the next couple of weeks,” the release said about AVTT/PTTN.
Another big change for the festival in 2026 is the addition of comedy, including former “Late Late Show” bandleader Reggie Watts. Other notable performers scheduled for next year’s festival include Flying Lotus, SHABAKA, Terry Allen, Perfume Genius and MJ Lenderman & The Wind.
Visit bigearsfestival.org for the full lineup and more information about the festival.
Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Avett Brothers, Mike Patton debuting AVTT/PTTN at Big Ears Festival