Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon manages to accomplish more in between his band’s albums than many artists do throughout their entire careers. It’s easy to forget that spearheading Bon Iver is technically Vernon’s full-time occupation. During the time between his self-released 2007 debut For Emma, Forever Agoand Bon Iver's subsequent self-titled sophomore album in 2011, Vernon launched a side project, contributed to a little album called My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and had his music covered by Peter Gabriel. Now, a half-decade since their last studio release, Bon Iver have announced a new album, set for a live debut this Friday at Vernon's Eaux Claires festival. In the meantime, let's take a look at what Vernon’s been up to since 2011.
July 22, 2011: With an official proclamation from the mayor, the City of Milwaukee declares July 22 to be Bon Iver Day, “in recognition of Justin Vernon/Bon Iver’s Wisconsin and Milwaukee ties.” It’s also the day that Vernon kicks off his international tour in support of Bon Iver, which was released a month prior.
August 24, 2011: Music fans rejoice as Vernon releases a collaboration with James Blake, “Fall Creek Boys Choir.” It appears on Blake’s Enough Thunder EPlater that year, and marks the first of several songs the two work on together in the years to come.
September 24, 2012: After over a full year of touring, Vernon states in a Minnesota Public Radio interview that he’s “winding down” the Bon Iver project. “I look at it like a faucet. I have to turn it off and walk away from it because so much of how that music comes together is subconscious or discovering,” he tells The Current's David Campbell. “There’s so much attention on the band, it can be distracting at times. I really feel the need to walk away from it while I still care about it. And then if I come back to it—if at all—I’ll feel better about it and be renewed or something to do that.”
January 25, 2013: Vernon’s blues-focused side project the Shouting Matches is announced to be performing at Coachella 2013. Meanwhile, a representative for Bon Iver’s label Jagjaguwar states “the band is at work on new material together.”
May 25, 2013: Volcano Choir, the side project Vernon formed in 2009 with fellow Wisconsin band Collections of Colonies of Bees, announces their sophomore album and a North American tour.
June 18, 2013:Kanye West releases his sixth studio album, Yeezus. Vernon once again makes an appearance, co-writing and contributing vocals on “I Am a God” as well as singing additional parts on “I’m In It” and “Hold My Liquor.” (During a recent interview with Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1, West lauded Vernon as his “favorite living artist.”)
July 25, 2013: Following his cover of Bon Iver’s “Flume,” Peter Gabriel taps Vernon and co. to do a cover of “Come Talk to Me.”
June 30, 2014: Bon Iver releases their first piece of new original music since 2011, “Heavenly Father.” It’s taken from the soundtrack for Zach Braff’s film Wish I Was Here.
July 8, 2015: Days before the inaugural Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival, Vernon’s co-curated festival with the National’s Aaron Dessner, the Bon Iver frontman tells Grantland that there are no further plans to record music or play shows under the Bon Iver project. “I definitely care about the Bon Iver thing a lot, but it’s kinda my thing and there’s only so much time you can spend with yourself before you just become an asshole,” Vernon says. “We don’t have anything booked after this. We don’t have any plans. We’re not being secretive—we just don’t have any plans.” He goes on to say that the band “might play some new stuff” during their headlining set at Eaux Claires, but offers nothing concrete. Until...
July 19, 2015: Vernon makes good on his non-committal teasing, with Bon Iver debuting two new songs during their closing set at Eaux Claires.
Feburary 11, 2016: In an interview with Billboard, Vernon reveals that the project is “no longer winding down.” “The last few years have given me a lot of perspective. It’s been valuable,” he says. “But I’d rather be busy, and I’d rather be engaged. I learned a lot of lessons. I learned a lot about what this stuff can do to people and how it can change how people set their priorities. I’m not interested in having my priorities all screwed up.”
May 5, 2016: Bon Iver and James Blake come together once again for “I Need a Forest Fire,” off Blake’s third studio album The Colour in Anything. Vernon is the sole feature on the album, and one of only two co-writers alongside Blake. (The other is one Frank Ocean.)
June 9, 2016: In a tweet from his personal ‘blobtower’ account, Vernon states that Bon Iver will be performing a set “made of new music” at this year’s edition of Eaux Claires.
hey
— blobtower (@blobtower) June 9, 2016
for anyone who wants to know…
Bon Iver will be playing a set made of NEW music this august @EauxClairesWI
July 7, 2016: Francis and the Lights release the video for their song “Friends,” featuring Bon Iver and Kanye West. The video features Vernon hitting some pretty snazzy synchronized dance moves.
July 22, 2016: Bon Iver upload a mysterious video titled “#22days” to their YouTube channel, soundtracked by what is assumed to be a snippet of new music. In it, a voice sings, “It might be over soon.”
August 9, 2016: It is announced that Bon Iver will premiere their new album at Eaux Claires festival this Friday (August 12). No word on a title—though the new murals promoting the record also involve the number 22—or an official release date. Bon Iver currently have a small handful of tour dates scheduled this October. (We'll update this as more info becomes available.)