The third edition of the Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner-curated Eaux Claires festival happened this weekend. Storms and rain caused caused some set cancellations on the smaller stages, and set time changes on the larger, but the spirit of collaboration between musicians upon which Eaux Claires places an emphasis was alive and well.
We posted about how Justin Vernon joined Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer for their set as Tweedy, including “California Stars,” which you can watch video of HERE. Vernon was also joined by artists like Jenny Lewis, Mountain Man (whose Eaux Claires sets were their first after a few years of hibernation), Spank Rock, and Anais Mitchell in covering John Prine (videos). Co-curators Vernon and Dessner resurrected the name Big Red Machine from the Dark Was the Night compilation and debuted some new songs under the moniker, as well as jamming together in one of the “People Mixtape” sessions. Watch video of that below.
Paul Simon was joined for his set by contemporary chamber ensemble yMusic. They debuted a new arrangement of “The Sound of Silence,” which you can watch below. USA Today reports further on the set:
…the arrangements were often exquisite. The fanciful rendition Peace Like a River from Son Lux’s Ryan Lott fluttered like a hummingbird, a country twang of guitar slipping into noirish jazz trumpet. Can’t Run But, arranged by The National’s Bryce Dessner, skipped along at a hurried clip, breathy blows of flute skipping atop perky plucks and strikes of violin strings. And yMusic member Rob Moose’s treatment for The Sound of Silence made an American classic even more exquisite, with earthy cello and yearning violins gorgeously echoing the sentiment of Simon’s tender voice — finally earning the respectful hush of the majority of the crowd at the very end.
Chance the Rapper, Danny Brown, Feist, Perfume Genius, Sylvan Esso, Francis and the Lights, Polica and s-t-a-r-g-a-z-e‘s collaboration Music for the Long Emergency, S. Carey (with Glenn Kotche of Wilco), This is the Kit, Happy Apple, Zebulon Pike, and Two Banjos were among other artists who played the two-day Eau Claires, WI festival. Pictures are in the gallery above.
