“NOBODY EXPECTED HIM TO TAKE THE STAGE.” 🎤😭 — THEN JUSTIN VERNON DELIVERED A SURPRISE PERFORMANCE FANS HAD BEEN WAITING YEARS TO SEE Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon stunned fans at his Eaux Claires Festival by performing an entire set of Bob Dylan classics before returning for an unannounced Bon Iver performance — his first full live set of original music in nearly three years. The emotional comeback featured beloved hits, rare tracks, and even an unreleased tribute song, leaving the crowd in awe. But it wasn’t just the unexpected return that had everyone talking — one special song choice during the surprise set is now becoming the moment fans can’t stop replaying.

Justin Vernon, a.k.a. Bon Iver, returned to the stage Friday at his curated Eaux Claires festival, performing a lengthy set of Bob Dylan covers as well as a surprise set of his own music.

The announced “Bon Dylan” set featured Vernon and friends playing over a dozen of the legendary singer-songwriter’s tracks, from well-known classics like “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Tangled Up in Blue” to more obscure fare like Shot of Love’s “Shooting Star” and Slow Train Coming’s “When He Returns.”

Watch the “Bon Dylan” set in its entirety below:

Vernon also played an unannounced set of his own music, his first time playing a full set of his own music live since 2023; Vernon has only played at a Harris/Walz campaign event and an anti-ICE benefit since then.

The surprise set featured Bon Iver tracks like “Flume,” “Speyside,” the early rarity “Hayward, WI,” “Re: Stacks,” the unreleased John Prine tribute “Room to Spare,” and opened with a take on Kevin Morby’s “Die Young”; Morby was scheduled to perform at Eaux Claires before dropping out (for good reason), with the surprise Vernon set taking its place.

Eaux Claires at the Wisconsin city’s Carson Park continues Saturday with sets from Dijon, Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore, Samia, and more.

SOURCE: ROLLING STONE