Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon Plays Full Dylan Set as Bon Dylan at Eaux Claires Return

The Eaux Claires festival returned after an eight-year hiatus on Friday, and one of the marquee performances was exactly what the billing suggested: Bon Dylan, a full set of Bob Dylan covers led by Justin Vernon.

The 16-song set spanned decades, opening with “Not Dark Yet” and “Shooting Star” before moving into a largely acoustic run through Dylan’s ‘60s and ‘70s material. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and “The Man in Me” gave way to a full-band stretch that sharpened the edges of “Tangled Up in Blue,” “Meet Me in the Morning,” and “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You,” with drummer Sean Carey taking vocals on the latter. A duet with Monica Martin on “Boots of Spanish Leather” stood out, as did the organ-driven “When He Returns” from Dylan’s Christian period. The night ended with a rousing “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

Elsewhere at the festival, Vernon filled in for Kevin Morby with an unannounced solo set as “Bon,” playing Morby’s “Die Young” alongside Bon Iver songs and a pair of rarities: the John Prine tribute “Room To Spare” and the unreleased “Hayward, WI.”

The return of the Vernon and Aaron Dessner-founded festival coincided with Bon Iver’s release of VOLUMES, a rarities collection out in April.