When V.P. Kamala Harris and newly-announced Democratic vice president nominee Gov. Tom Walz announced they were set to arrive in Eau Claire for one of their first rallies as a ticket, the national spotlight shown on the Chippewa Valley. With GOP vice president candidate JD Vance also arriving in Eau Claire the same day, Aug. 7, the town was a flurry of road blocks, upped security, and high energy. 

Eau Claire-born indie band, Bon Iver, performed at the 12,000-deep crowd at the Eau Claire Event District before the candidates spoke. The band also performed at E.C. rallies for then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020, no stranger to a political platform, and performed four songs: “Towers” (from Bon Iver, Bon Iver), “666 ʇ” (from 22, A Million), “Flume” (from For Emma, Forever Ago), and finally “The Battle Cry of Freedom,” a Civil War-era tune.