Emerging in 2008, Justin Vernon released the debut album For Emma, Forever Ago under Bon Iver, introducing Vernon as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation and revealing a distinct sound – tethered to a season of contemplation and the crisp, heart-strung isolation of Winter. EP Blood Bank followed in 2009 and then Bon Iver’s eponymous sophomore album in 2011, featuring a more frenetic Spring sound. The record topped album charts across the globe, hitting #2 in America and Australia and saw Bon Iver take home Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album and Best New Artist. 2016’s critically acclaimed 22, A Million followed. “It was,” Vernon says, “our crazy energy Summer record” and was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
Bon Iver returned in 2019 with i,i, garnering an ecstatic response upon its release as the outfit’s most expansive, joyful and generous album yet. i,i was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Texas, a tenure which brought Vernon to a calmed and creative state that he channelled into each of the album’s 13 songs. Singles were added straight onto global streaming and radio playlists while the band opened up more than ever before with in-depth interviews from Pitchfork, Zane Lowe, Annie Mac, Q and Uncut. The album was nominated at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Album, as well as Record of the Year for track ‘Hey Ma’.
Bon Iver has evolved from a solo project of Justin Vernon’s to a band with a revolving lineup of collaborators. The core band for the i,i sessions included Sean Carey, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Mike Lewis, Matt McCaughan, and Justin Vernon with Rob Moose and Jenn Wasner, plus contributions from the likes of James Blake, Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National), Bruce Hornsby, Velvet Negroni, Buddy Ross, Marta Salogni, Moses Sumney, the members of TU Dance, plus many more.
Bon Iver’s long list of notable collaborations continues as Vernon takes intimate, confessional indie folk into increasingly expansive and abstract realms. His early collaborations sprung from the opportunity to sing on Kanye West’s 2010 masterwork, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which yielded an ongoing series of songs with the rapper and transformed Vernon into the world’s unlikeliest hip-hop impresario, with contributions to records by Travis Scott, Vince Staples and Eminem. 2020 saw Vernon join Taylor Swift for a duet on her indie-leaning opus, folklore as well as release singles ‘PDLIF’ and ‘AUATC’. Most recently, Bon Iver featured on Ethan Gruska’s ‘So Unimportant’.
Known for their ability to capture both ambience and landscape in their remarkable music, Bon Iver is sure to soothe souls when they reach our shores in 2023. The last Australian tour announced for the band sold out in just over 48 hours – before it was cancelled due to COVID in 2020. So, gather your nearest and dearest and get ready to pounce when tickets go on sale. Pre-sale begins from 9am local on Thursday 25 August*. Tickets with available to the general public from 9am Friday 26 August here.
BON IVER AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Friday 17 February 2023 – Aware Super Theatre, Sydney
Tuesday 21 February – MONA FOMA, Hobart
Sunday 26 February – Perth Festival, Perth
Thursday 2 March 2023 – Riverstage, Brisbane
Saturday 4 March 2023 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Friday 10 March 2023 – WOMADelaide, Adelaide
TICKETS FOR SYDNEY, MELBOURNE AND BRISBANE
Pre-sale begins 9am local Thursday 25 August*. Sign up to get access here
Tickets on sale to the general public at 9am local Friday 26 Aug
* Perth Festival pre-sale starts at 12pm AWST. Pre-sale is not available for MONA FOMA.
