A TOWERING SUCCESS. The release of Bon Iver, Bon Iver catapulted the Eau Claire-based band into superstardom, seeing them playing arenas by the end of the album's promotional cycle.

A decade after its release helped put Eau Claire on the musical map, a new version of Bon Iver’s self-titled sophomore album is hitting store shelves to commemorate 10 years of life-changing experiences. 

On Friday, March 25, Bon Iver, Jagjaguwar, and 4AD released the 10th Anniversary Edition of 2011’s pivotal and widely praised album, Bon Iver, Bon Iver. In addition to all 10 of the cherished, self-titled record's original songs, the commemorative reissue features five performances from Justin Vernon and Sean Carey’s beloved AIR Studios session, available in physical formats and across digital platforms for the very first time. Sitting at opposite ends of grand pianos, rearranging album highlights such as “Beth/Rest,” the Blood Bank EP’s “Babys,” Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and more, the two longtime Bon Iver bandmates and breathtaking vocalists not only capture the grand spirit of Bon Iver, Bon Iver, but distill it into sharper focus. 

The re-release of the album features a reimagined, blind embossed version of the album's cover art – as well as a personal essay from devout Bon Iver fan Phoebe Bridgers, delving deeper into the “massive, sprawling, unbelievably complex” collection of music – Bon Iver, Bon Iver (10th Anniversary Edition) that is out now on CD, 2x white vinyl LP and digital platforms.  

“Three songs in, it is hard to focus on the road because you are crying,” Bridgers said in her essay. “In the delicate balance of contentment and nostalgia and depleted serotonin, you remember all the reasons you love this album; the way it amplifies whatever feelings are already there. When you were seventeen, it was heartbreak, horniness, fear, an avalanche of yearning. But here, now-the landscape slipping past your windows, the lyrics folding into the music, you seeing yourself singing, and singing loud — you are happy, you are weeping, you are moving fast.”

The album catapulted Bon Iver to the top of indie rock stardom, garnering them two Grammy Awards at the 54th edition of the award show for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. Heck, Vernon even thanked Eau Claire in his acceptance speech. That’s pretty rad. 

Bon Iver will return to the road soon for their first US tour since a 2019 series of arena shows supporting the band’s latest album, i,i. The tour kicks off in Mesa, Arizona, on March 30, and the run of two dozen dates will span spring and summer, including stops at NYC’s Forest Hills Stadium, Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, a sold-out Moody Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, and many more, with support from Dijon and Bonny Light Horseman. 

The 10th Anniversary Edition of Bon Iver, Bon Iver is available now at The Local Store and boniver.org.