After making a formal announcement that Bon Iver would no longer continue touring and making music, except for one live performance throughout all of 2015, Justin Vernon and company have reversed direction and officially revealed their first tour dates of 2016, Stereogum notes. Apparently the comeback will start in Asia.
The group released their debut studio album For Emma, Forever Ago in 2008, followed up by their sophomore, self-titled album Bon Iver. Ever since, Vernon made it clear that he would continue making music in a divergent direction but that the group would have its final curtain call, never to craft music under the name again, until now.
Speaking to Grantland earlier in the year, Vernon detailed his doubts about Bon Iver's future endeavors. "I definitely care about the Bon Iver thing a lot," he explained, referring to the group's demise. "But it's kind of my thing and there's only so much time you can spend with yourself before you just become an assh*le."
Now, the indie folk band revealed a string of live dates in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Philippines. Bon Iver took the stage for the only time in 2015 during The National's Aaron Dessner and Vernon-crafted Euax Claires Festival in Wisconsin over the summer. The performance boasted a duo of surprising fresh tracks which included artists like Spoon and Polica, Low and Sufjan Stevens. The two untitled songs were captured in fan shot footage and swiftly uploaded to the Internet.
In a more recent interview with Kare 11 in May, the "Skinny Love" singer gave hope to all Bon Iver fans when he detailed the Festival and hope for new material. "It's the perfect platform for us to be like, this is how we're starting this new cycle, new life of the band. It makes so much sense to start it here."
We're headed to Asia to play some shows early next year! We're going because we've never been. Join us! pic.twitter.com/fDfzmdb1rS
— Bon Iver (@boniver) November 18, 2015
02/21: Seoul, South Korea @ Ax Hall
02/24: Taipei, Taiwan @ Ticc
02/26: Singapore, Singapore @ The Star Theatre
02/29: Tokyo, Japan @ Studio Coast
03/02: Osaka, Japan @ Zepp Namba
03/05: Manila, Philippines @ Wanderland Music & Arts Festival
03/08: Hong Kong, China @ Macpherson Stadium
