Clearly, the Insomniac crew have struck a golden formula with the Electric Forest festival. The 2015 incarnation of the Michigan dance festival sold out in less than 24 hours after tickets went on sale. And in madly enthusiastic fashion, those 40,000 ticketholders made the trek to the Double JJ Resort in the woods of Rothbury, MI to experience an expanded festival grounds and two new stages, with featured performances from The String Cheese Incident (performing 3 shows), Bassnectar, Skrillex, Kaskade, Flume, Big Gigantic, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and many more.
Bedtimes are a myth at Electric Forest, with musical performances running deep into the night and early morning hours. Friday’s lineup, featuring Break Science, Lettuce, Charles Bradley, Datsik and The String Cheese Incident, was an excellent buildup to EDM heavyweight Skrillex blasting the Ranch Arena with confetti, lasers and fireworks. Thanks to Flux Pavillion’s high-octane set at the Tripolee stage, post-Skrillex bedtimes were far easier planned than executed.
When the most controversial aspect of a festival is their hammock policy, it’s a definite sign of things done right. In previous Electric Forest events, festivalgoers could string up hammocks wherever their hearts desired, resulting in a patchwork display of view-interrupting comfort zones. Now, a new policy designates that hammocks can only be hung in designated “Hammock Zones” in the scenic Sherwood Forest. The hammock guidelines “are intended to preserve the experience and overall health of The Forest for the many beautiful years to come.” Controversy!
Those a little more hammock-averse who are still looking for some woodsy elevation enjoy the tree forts, elaborate wooden structures scattered throughout the Sherwood Forest that can reach up to four stories high. Each has its own unique design and explorable wonderland.
Creative minds inspired by the psychedelic nature immersion can express their inner spark at the Creation Station Art Bar, which allows festivalgoers to create their own buttons, necklaces and bracelets during the day and experience a sound bar featuring a wide variety of instruments at night.
More than 100 artists across a dance-driven genre spectrum are performing on seven different stages, including two new venues. Additional acts include Kaskade and Flume, Big Gigantic, Wale, Galantis, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Yonder Mountain String Band, Odesza, Paul Oakenfold, Lotus, Carnage, Carl Cox, G-Eazy, Flux Pavilion, Seun Kuti, Shpongle, Phantogram, Gramatik, Galactic with Macy Gray, Lettuce, Break Science, The Motet, John Digweed, EOTO, Alison Wonderland and many others.
Electric Forest is produced by Madison House Presents and Insomniac.
