Picture this:
swaying colors in the breeze, a distance melody of Polica, clusters of frisbee players, pockets of sunbathers, an ice cold Summer Shandy in your hand, and the sizzling sun on your skin.
This past weekend was Eaux Claires Fest and it was unbelievable; a weekend I will never forget.
Justin Vernon and his creative group of collaborators delivered a truly amazing weekend. From marching bands walking around the nearby campsites, to surprise stage appearances, and local art tents, the weekend was beautiful. There were 22,000 in attendance, [as described from the festival’s curator as 22,000 hearts beating as one], three stages, and a multitude of genres of music.
Tony & I and two of our good friends, [hey Amanda & Phil!], walked into the festival at around 3:30 on Friday afternoon. The festival grounds was set in the banks of the Chippewa River, down a winding path through the woods, and under an art installation that took your breath away.
When I speak of swaying colors, this is what I speak of; it was absolutely dreamy.
We kicked the festival off the first day listening to Low, Doomtree, Spoon, The Tallest Man on Earth, The National, and Lizzo. Two of the musicians we heard [Doomtree & Lizzo] are based out of Minnesota, so it was awesome to hear them perform at the best festival. The 90 degree temperatures did not deter our moods and our music lovin’ attitudes. It was hard to pick a favorite out of Day One, but if I really think hard about it, Doomtree probably topped the charts for me. [You know my love for hip-hop, especially GOOD hip-hop], but coming in at a close second is definitely Tallest Man on Earth, [very Bob Dylan-esque].
The surprise of Day One was after the headliner – The National – performed. We decided to stick around for another show and headed up the hill and through the woods to the other stage.
The path through the woods was illuminated & dusted with spotlights in the trees, which lit up with different greens, blues, whites, and reds, [they changed with the bands performing on the main stage]. There were also lit lanterns and what looked like lit window panes. It was ghostly, but beautiful.
My blurry iphone picture doesn’t do it justice, but it was goose-bump worthy.
Day One ended with a hair-rising performance from Lizzo. She came out with a bang at 11:30 at night with a Ludacris ‘Move Bitch’ remix. Between her infectious energy, dance moves, and heavy beat, I’m torn at what I loved most.
Day Two.
The most important day; Bon Iver day.
The other concerts of day two were just as wonderful. It was hard to rally in the heat for a second day, but the music was simply too amazing. I eventually didn’t care that I sweat dripping down my legs and through my sundress; it was Bon Iver day. I didn’t let my sore feet get in the way of what I had been anxiously waiting for the past two years.
We listened to Haley Bonar, Charles Bradley and His Extraordinars, Polica, Indigo Girls, and the Sufjan Stevens throughout the day. A lot of time was spent in the shade, which was perfect. As we sat and listened, I warned the group that I may cry during Bon Iver’s performance; Tony rolled his eyes a bit, [he knows I’m so emotional], but my good ol’ friend Amanda said, “that’s okay Kaylee, music is religion.”
How a true and fitting way to describe my feelings towards Bon Iver and their music? I went on to explain how much their songs, lyrics, and overall melodies have gotten me through the past two years. The hardest and worst part of the concert was to try to enjoy all the fantastic music before their performance.
& then, just like that, it was ten o’clock. It was time.
22,000 hearts beat as one as Justin Vernon took the stage. I’ve never been at a concert that was so silent – in a good way. 22,000 souls were holding their breath, waiting for the first strum of music to fill the air.
& when the music started, it was the best thing I’ve ever heard.
I had to remind myself to breath.
I had to tell myself I wasn’t dreaming.
I was captivated.
Justin made the performance one to remember – he brought up different artists: The Staves, who sang a hauntingly gorgeous melody with his second song, & the No BS! Brass Band, who accompanied him during the song For Emma, [one of my favorites!]. He sang two new songs during his encore; both amazing. But it was the song before his encore that finally did me in – big crocodile tears traveled down my cheeks as the song ended.
The Wolves, Act I & II:
Someday my pain
Someday my pain will mark you
Harness your blame
Harness your blame, walk through
With the wild wolves around you
In the morning, I’ll call you
Send it farther on
Solace my game
Solace my game, it stars you
Swing wide your crane
Swing wide your crane and run me through
And the story’s all over
In the morning, I’ll call you
Can’t you find a clue
When your eyes are all painted Sinatra blue
What might have been lost
What might have been lost
What might have been lost
What might have been lost
Don’t bother me
(Don’t bother me)
What might have been lost
(Don’t bother me)
What might have been lost
(Don’t bother me)
What might have been lost
(Don’t bother me)
What might have been lost
(Don’t bother me)
What might have been lost
(Don’t bother me)
What might have been lost
(Don’t bother me)
What might have been lost
Someday my pain
Someday my pain, my pain
Someday my pain
Someday my pain
It’s most likely not a song about cancer, but it speaks to me, like a lot.
Thank you, Justin Vernon, for inviting me along to a magical weekend. It was one for the books.
xo