Eaux Claires Festival Adds Aaron Dessner & Fred again.. Set To 2026 Lineup

Aaron Dessner and Fred again.. will join forces for a collaborative set at Eaux Claires 2026. The first installment in eight years of the festival founded by Dessner and local native Justin Vernon of Bon Iver takes place at Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on July 24 – 25.

“I co-founded this festival with Aaron Dessner, and daddy’s coming home. It wouldn’t be a festival without Aaron, without his guidance I would have never even had the idea,” said Vernon of The National guitarist, during a press conference on Tuesday at Carson Park Baseball Stadium’s Hank Aaron Plaza.

Fred again.. shared the follow about the unexpected collaboration:

“On 24th July im gonna play a one off show with the guy Aaron Dessner at Justin Vernons festival Eaux Claires.

Ive been exploring a lot with live improvisation and playing off of different people in a room, and embracing not knowing whats going to happen. I think thats a thing that is becoming increasingly precious to me. So this will be like that I think.

Ive been having basically a year away from shows to jus write

BUT.

These are two of the great musicians of the living world.

I can remember EXACTLY the scene of the first time I heard a national song. Afraid of everyone, and the little glitching guitar part just haunted me. I tried to replicate it over and again. And then I dived all the way into all of their music for years to come. And then Aaron and I actually worked together on a song from secret life!

And the music of Justin Vernon is not something I have words for and I never will. So instead I gratefully play his festival in a fundamentally futile attempt to express even a fraction of my gratitude for the way he has shaped my entire existence.”

Aaron & Fred will perform on opening night, Friday, July 24. Yesterday, organizers revealed Lil Yachty “is no longer able to perform at Eaux Claires.” Known MPLS, a youth and young-adult choir from Minneapolis, has been slid onto the bill for Saturday, July 25. The 2026 Eaux Claires lineup also features Dijon, Aimee Mann, Kevin Morby Daniel Caesar, & Mary Lattimore, Hotline TNT, Monica Martin and The Union featuring Phil Cook, among others.

Click below to view the full lineup along with ticket and more festival info.