LEAN MEAN LINEUP-ANNOUNCIN’ ZINE. A zine called Troix – designed by Knorth Studios – was delivered to early Eaux Claires ticket buyers recently. It contained a bunch of photos, wintry words, and the full 2017 lineup. Photo: Scott Kunkel

The Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival announced this year’s full lineup of artists in typically underground fashion. Last fall, the festival put a small amount of tickets on sale just a few short weeks after year two – or Deux – ended, with the lineup still under wraps.

Fast-forward through the holidays and ice storms and the dead of winter to February, when those unsuspecting presale ticket buyers opened their mailboxes to find an illustrious zine called Troix.

“It is the darkness that makes us long for spring. The cold chills your bones, but the darkness deadens your heart. It is the darkness we are desperate to dispel. So we are making plans for the light.” – The words of Michael Perry in the Eaux Claires Troix zine

The zine, which was put together by Knorth Studios and Ambient Inks, is packed with abstract wintry images, poetically-stated details about the upcoming fest, and profiles for the full lineup of artists – which includes Wilco, Chance The Rapper, Paul Simon (performing with yMusic), John Prine (performing the Classic American songbook with Bon Iver), Feist, Danny Brown, Perfume Genius, Sylvan Esso, and tons more artists and collaborators.

If you were one of the lucky ones to nab a zine, you’ll notice some familiar imagery within its pages, such as photos of The Joynt and even a picture of that infamous house at the corner of Third and Lake that Justin Vernon sang about.

Troix has festival narrator Michael Perry’s signature words washed all over it and starts with a short letter about this time of year in Wisconsin: “We resent the darkness more than the cold,” it reads. “It is the darkness that makes us long for spring. The cold chills your bones, but the darkness deadens your heart. It is the darkness we are desperate to dispel. So we are making plans for the light.”

Those plans are finally coming to fruition with a lineup of artists that’s packed with big names, big ideas, and big ambition. One thing to note here is that they’re purposefully downsizing a little bit with reconfigured grounds and fewer stages. That means there won’t be any conflicting musical acts, and festival goers can take in everything without missing anything. As the opening lines of the zine put it: “We are doing this so that we will all experience more of the festival together.”

Photo: Janae Breunig

The lineup, though a bit smaller than in years past, packs  a huge punch and it’s eclectic as all get out. From the hard-hitting rap force of Danny Brown to the legendary Paul Simon teaming up with neo-classical ensemble yMusic, to the indie splash of Feist, to the soulful hip hop of the one-and-only Chance The Rapper, to folk royalty John Prine performing with the members of Bon Iver, to alt-country great Wilco – there’s a lot to take in.

Plus, when you book Wilco at a festival like Eaux Claires that encourages and thrives on collaboration, you’re gonna get the many side projects of its members, a beautiful package deal that includes Tweedy, cup, The Autumn Defense, Quindar – all of which feature members of Wilco. And there’s even a very intriguing team up between S. Carey and Wilco’s drummer Glenn Kotchke included here.

Another cool thing outlined in the zine is this list of “artists in residence” – musicians and collaborators who aren’t specifically on the lineup, but will be there to contribute in ways seen, unseen, and unforeseen. “Ever evolving, the residents will serve as a creative core, one set to bolster the musical performances and interactions of the festival with the flexibility to contribute with whomever, however, and whenever they desire,” the zine explans. The artists in residence include Vernon, Sam Amidon, Phil Cook, Sean Carey, Aaron and Bryce Dessner (of The National), Jenny Lewis, Anaïs Mitchell, Ryan Olson (of GAYNGS and Marijuana Deathsquads), The Staves, and others.

This festival, which is happening on June 16 and 17 this year at the festival grounds outside of Eau Claire, is starting to come together and – like always – there’s plenty to be astonished and excited about. And – like always – we’ll join you there.

“For now, this place is rimed with ice and studded with slush knobs,” Perry writes of the festival grounds. “What sweet antidote it is to envision how we might dance in the grass. There is great power in wanting what we cannot have.”

A limited supply of advance two-day general admission and Chippewa passes for Eaux Claires are on sale right now. For tickets, info, and to check out the Troix zine, check out www.eauxclaires.com.

EAUX CLAIRES 2017 LINEUP

The Autumn Defense

Big Red Machine

Bon Iver Presents John Prine and

the American Songbook

Chance The Rapper

Collections Of Colonies Of Bees

Cup

Danny Brown

Feist

Francis and the Lights

Happy Apple

Julieta Venegas

Mountain Man

Mouse On Mars

Music For The Long Emergency

Paul Simon with yMusic

Perfume Genius

Quindar

S. Carey & Glenn Kotche

Spank Rock

s-t-a-r-g-a-z-e

Sylvan Esso

This Is The Kit

Tweedy

Velvet Negroni

Wilco

Zebulon Pike