Title: Justin Vernon Transforms Into Bob Dylan for One-Off Bon Dylan Performance at Eaux Claires 2026

Justin Vernon, frontman of Bon Iver, has revealed details about his upcoming one-time-only performance as Bob Dylan under the moniker “Bon Dylan” at the 2026 Eaux Claires Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The announcement confirms that Vernon will take the stage on July 24-25 as a full-tilt avatar of the legendary songwriter, drawing inspiration from Dylan’s mid-1990s era while performing material spanning his entire catalog.

The performance marks Vernon’s only scheduled live appearance for 2026, coming after a hiatus from touring that began when Bon Iver last hit the road in 2019. Vernon described the project as both a creative reset and a personal exploration, stating in a newly released teaser video that he hasn’t “felt much like being what I’ve been” and saw the Dylan tribute as an opportunity to “try to be Bob Dylan for a night” while attempting to “turn Bon into Bob.”

The concept for Bon Dylan originated from a concert Vernon attended with his father and approximately 16 friends in Eau Claire roughly one year prior to the announcement. He recalled the experience as reigniting a sense of community that had been missing for years, which directly influenced the decision to revive the Eaux Claires Festival after considering whether to bring back Bon Iver as a headlining act.

Vernon ultimately chose artistic transformation over repetition, framing the Dylan project as a way to engage with different musical territory without revisiting the emotional landscape of his own catalog. He noted that the idea aligns with his recent reservations about touring expectations tied to his established work, offering what he described as an “escape hatch” to perform through another artist’s lens.

For the performances, Vernon will be joined by a rotating ensemble of longtime collaborators and frequent musical partners. The confirmed backing band includes Sean Carey (listed twice in official materials), Phil Cook, JT Bates, JP Brooks, Camaja Byrd, Ben Lester, Michael Lewis, Katira Lutterman, John Pieter, Courtland Pickens and Jeremy Ylvisaker. The group will be supplemented by additional guest singers whose identities have not yet been disclosed.

The teaser video announcing the project features a skeletal rehearsal recording of Bob Dylan’s “Not Dark Yet,” which serves as both the soundtrack and first public glimpse into the musical direction of the Bon Dylan performances. Vernon framed the endeavor as equal parts novelty and sincere artistic exploration, emphasizing its roots in a specific moment of collective experience in his hometown.

Beyond the festival appearance, Vernon has also begun revisiting his concert archives through a new archival series titled VOLUMES. The inaugural installment, VOLUMES: ONE “SELECTIONS FROM MUSIC CONCERTS 2019-2023 BON IVER 6 PIECE BAND,” was released on April 3 and compiles nine performances from the band’s final four years of touring before their hiatus, along with a solitary track dating back to 2017.