It seems likes just recently Justin Vernon was announcing that Bon Iver was “winding down,” but now is he saying something different.
In 2012, the same year that Bon Iver won the Grammy for Best New Artist, Vernon told The Current, “I really feel the need to walk away from [Bon Iver] while I still care about it,” and it seemed he was going to do just that.
Their most recent album, Bon Iver, Bon Iver, was released in 2011, and their last live performance was at Vernon’s own Eaux Claires Music Festival last year. Fans of the group have been without new music and shows for a while, but according to Vernon that is about to change.
Vernon shared in an interview with Billboard that he has “definitely been working on new music.” He also announced that Bon Iver will play at Eaux Claires in Wisconsin again this August, which could be good news in terms of fresh music considering the group played two new songs for the crowd at last year’s set.
Along with the festival, the group has announced a short Asian Tour with stops in major cities like Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. The tour will span from late February into early August even though it only contains 7 shows.
Bon Iver also plans to collaborate with artist James Blake for a live performance in the future. The electronic music producer and singer songwriter out of London who paired with the group in 2011 to make “Fall Creek Boys Choir” plans to perform with them again soon.
Not only is Vernon hinting at new music, but he is releasing old songs as well. Just the other day he tweeted the song “Haven, Mass” which he explained to be a “very old” song from around 2009 or 2010 that didn’t make the cut for their self titled 2011 album.
It is still unclear if we will get new Bon Iver music in 2016, but things seem to be headed in that direction. Until then you can listen to their albums Blood Bank, For Emma Forever Ago, and Bon Iver, Bon Iver.