When the lineup dropped in February for the long-awaited return of Bon Iver’s Eaux Claires Festival, the big names generated a lot of buzz. Aimee Mann, Daniel Caesar, Dijon, Bon Dylan – wait, who’s ‘Bon Dylan?’
Many fans speculated that this mystery name could be the band’s architect Justin Vernon putting on his leopard-skin pill-box hat for a set of Bob Dylan covers. But no answers were given – until now, that is.
In a video posted on Instagram Thursday morning, Bon Iver cleared the air: Justin Vernon and company will perform as Bob Dylan circa 1994, playing songs from every era for one-night only.
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“The question of whether Bon Iver should play or not – it was on the table,” Vernon narrates over footage of Wisconsin waterfalls, soundtracked by Dylan’s “Not Dark Yet” performed by the band. “I haven’t felt much like being what I’ve been. … So, I thought it’d be cool to try to be Bob Dylan for a night. I’m trying to turn Bon into Bob.”
Vernon also announced the other members of the band: JT Bates, JP Brooks, Camaja Byrd, Sean Carey, Phil Cook, Ben Lester, Michael Lewis, Katira Lutterman, John Pieter, Courtland Pickens and Jeremy Ylvisaker.
According to the video, the idea to bring back Eaux Claires (on hiatus after taking a break in 2019 that was prolonged by the pandemic) came to mind after Vernon saw Dylan perform in his hometown of Eau Claire last year. As of now, Bon Dylan is Vernon’s only scheduled performance this year.
Eaux Claires Festival will run July 24-25 at the historic Carson Park in Eau Claire.
Along with Bon Dylan, the lineup includes Lil Yachty, Kevin Morby, Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore, Monica Martin, Hotline TNT, Bizhiki and more. The festival will also feature readings, discussions and collaborations from “Writers in Residence” such as Wisconsin Poet Laureate Brenda Cárdenas, Michael Perry, Amanda Petrusich, Mustafa and others.
More details about “fair activities, added fun and other events” will be announced in the days to come, “emphasizing the local and the unexpected.” Find updates and general admission and VIP tickets on sale at the website.
