Aaron Dessner and Fred again.. to Perform Improvised Set at Eaux Claires Festival
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Aaron Dessner of The National and electronic producer Fred again.. are scheduled to deliver a first-of-its-kind improvised collaborative set on July 24 at the revived Eaux Claires festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. According to interviews given to SPIN, the spontaneous performance was organized as part of the festival’s return after an eight-year hiatus.
Creative Origins at Long Pond Studio
The collaboration between Dessner and Fred again.. traces back to sessions held at Dessner’s Long Pond studio in upstate New York. During those sessions, Fred again.. worked alongside Brian Eno while also recording unreleased material with Dessner. According to statements provided to SPIN, the musical dynamic involved Dessner playing guitar while Fred again.. manipulated, warped, and sequenced the audio in real time.
“Seeing how we bounced off each other in the moment, like me playing the guitar and him reacting and taking audio and warping it and manipulating it and sequencing it, was just so exciting,” Dessner tells SPIN regarding the creative process.
Gracie Abrams’ album Daughter from Hell, produced and co-written by Dessner, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide achieved platinum certification two months after release.
Revival of the Eaux Claires Festival in Wisconsin
The performance anchors the return of the Eaux Claires festival, originally founded by Dessner and Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon to host singular artistic experiments. Festival organizers arranged rehearsals for the impromptu set inside a local college auditorium in Eau Claire rather than a traditional recording studio or arena.
“You can feel kind of shy asking someone to do something like this,” Dessner notes about reaching out to Fred again. “But I did hit Fred up and he said, ‘oh my god, I was gonna go anyways. Let’s fucking do this!'”
Lineup Adjustments and Bon Iver’s Return
The festival schedule includes notable adjustments ahead of the weekend. Singer-songwriter Kevin Morby withdrew from the lineup after his partner, Waxahatchee artist Katie Crutchfield, gave birth to their child. Bon Iver is scheduled to perform a set on Friday, marking Justin Vernon’s first full live performance since August 2023. Vernon is also organizing a separate performance of Bob Dylan covers under the moniker Bon Dylan.
The improvised performance between Dessner and Fred again.. highlights the core intent behind the Wisconsin gathering’s revival. Even if the collaboration remains a one-time occurrence, participants emphasize the value of spontaneous musical exploration.
“Even if it’s something that never happens again, it will be worth it,” Dessner states. “I’ve learned so much and I think it potentially could lead to many things. I’m really, really happy about it.”