Bon Iver, Erykah Badu, Beach House to Headline Eaux Claires Music Fest
Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival has announced its lineup, which includes Erykah Badu, James Blake and festival curator Bon Iver. Held in Eaux Claire, Wisconsin, the hometown of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and The National’s Aaron Dessner, the pair will continue to curate the fest’s lineup. It will take place on August 12th and 13th and tickets go on sale on Friday at the festival’s website.
In its second year, the fest, which takes place on the 60-acre Foster Farm, boasts an eclectic lineup with 54 acts, including Bon Iver, Erykah Badu, James Blake, Beach House, Vince Staples, Har Mar Superstar, Mavis Staples and Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats.
Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers are also on the bill and are slated to perform Hornsby’s The Way it Is. According to a statement from the festival, another special performance is planned by Grateful Dead tribute project Day of the Dead, which is being coordinated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner. The band features musicians from this year’s fest lineup and its the first and only scheduled performance from the project.
In addition to the music, the fest houses mixed media and interactive installations on the grounds. Expanded art offerings include more sculpture, fine arts and literary elements.
“Our mission for Eaux Claires is to create a deeply meaningful experience of togetherness and expression. We feel like everyone, whether interested in the fashion of popularized music or not, will be entertained, moved, and surprised by our festival,” Vernon said in a statement. “The inaugural edition proved that Eaux Claires can inspire and generate power beyond just the big names. We believe that every single artist will bring an equal amount of importance and uniqueness to the culture we’ve created. We’re excited to grow in that spirit and push ourselves forward every year, to grow with our audience and celebrate are in all of its forms.”
Vernon previously stated that Bon Iver were “winding down,” but in a new interview with Billboard, Vernon said, “I’m no longer winding down.” He also added that he’s been working on new music. “It takes a long time and I’m not sure exactly what it is, or what it means to me, and until that happens I won’t really know exactly what sharing it will look like or feel like or when,” he said.