We observe the transition from stable operation (combustion noise) to limit cycle oscillations (thermoacoustic instability), as the location of a burner is changed inside a confinement. The onset of thermoacoustic instability is always preceded by bursts of intermittent periodic oscillations amidst regions of small-amplitude aperiodic fluctuations. As the control parameter is changed towards the condition of instability, these intermittent bursts of periodic oscillations last longer in time and finally self-excited limit cycle oscillations are observed. For change in flame location further past the condition of combustion instability, intermittency is again observed. The amplitude and duration of large-amplitude periodic oscillations during this intermittent regime reduces for further change in control parameter, and finally the flame blows out. We investigate the role of coupling of duct acoustics, flame and flow dynamics during intermittency before the onset of both thermoacoustic instability and blowout in a turbulent lifted jet flame combustor. We show that the coupled interaction of flow-flame-acoustic pressure causes intermittency before thermoacoustic instability. On the other hand, intermittent dynamics before blowout is dominated by blowout precursor events such as local extinction, flame stretching and reignition. © 2015, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. All rights reserved.