Justin Vernon of Bon Iver has revealed a new project called Bon Dylan, a one-time-only Bob Dylan covers performance at the 2026 Eaux Claires Festival. The concept features Dylan songs from across his career, performed in 1994 cosplay style. Vernon described it as his only planned show this year.
Justin Vernon announced the Bon Dylan project in a video released ahead of the Eaux Claires Festival, set for July 24-25. The performance, teased earlier in the festival lineup, will see Vernon and bandmates dress like Bob Dylan from 1994 while playing a suite of his songs. A rehearsal clip of “Not Dark Yet,” recorded last month, accompanies the video, as first reported by Pitchfork on April 23. Vernon explained the idea stemmed from Dylan's visit to town about a year ago. “I went with my dad and about 16 of my friends,” he said. “I’ve lived here for 44 years. And it’s been too long to remember since the town felt that together. So we thought we’d better get the festival back going.” He added that he questioned playing as Bon Iver: “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.” The band includes JT Bates, JP Brooks, Camaja Byrd, Sean Carey, Phil Cook, Ben Lester, Michael Lewis, Katira Lutterman, John Pieter, Courtland Pickens, and Jeremy Ylvisaker. This marks Vernon's sole performance planned for the year under any name.
