The highly anticipated, heavily desired Electric Forest Festival returns to the magical Sherwood Forest in Rothbury, Michigan this June 23-26th. Bringing an incredibly diverse lineup, it’s no wonder this festival sold out in a mere few days. Well known as one of the best festivals in the American Circuit, Insomniac Events continually improves one of their biggest festival by adding new stages, light schemes, props, and delicious food trucks. Many Electric Forest attendees have found themselves in Sherwood Forest for many consecutive years in a row. Electric Forest inspires one of the most loving, open-minded communities around. Each year this festival aims to expand its fan base by diversifying their portfolio to appeal to each and every individual in attendance.
The String Cheese Incident has regularly put the forest in a trance with a Saturday set that has been said to be one of the best experiences you will ever witness in your life. Along with 2 additonal sets, this immensely talented band repeatedly displays why EF in know to many as “SCI’s Festival”. Along with performances from STS9, The Disco Biscuits, and Papadosio, the Forest tends to bring out some of the most popular jam bands on the scene. Performances from groups such as Zoogma and Evanoff, are set to showcase some of the hottest rising talent in the nation. If for some reason these bands don’t get you grooving, an “All Good Records” showcase is sure to change that. With performances from Griz, The Floozies, Manic Focus, Sunsquabi, the Geek x Vrv, and Gosh Pith the Forest will certainly be enduring what Michigan native Griz likes to call “the funkiest party in the galaxy”.
Looking for a little more of a bass-heavy experience? Well look no further. Jam packed with some of the biggest names in electronic music, Sherwood Forest will be illuminated by dubstep and trap sensations such as Bassnectar, Adventure Club, Major Lazer, Baauer, Bro Safari, Flosstradamus, and a very special Caspa b2b Rusko set. Further down the lineup, you’ll find names such as Porter Robinson, Hermitude, Keys N Krates, Getter, G Jones, 12th Planet, Paper Diamond, and What So Not. And as if this wasn’t already one of the most phenomenal list of artists so far, add future bass rising sensations Louis the Child, NGHTMRE, Slander, Prince Fox, Mija, Hippie Sabotage and Slumberjack into the mix for a weekend that you’re sure to remember for the rest of your life.
Honestly though, Electric Forest is about so much more than the phenomenal performances you are sure to witness. Electric Forest is about escaping your regular life to enjoy a weekend in paradise. Your neighbors will be your new best friends within the first hour of your arrival. The group you’ll run into at your favorite artists set will be meshed with your own to enjoy the entire weekend with. The memories you’ll have and the euphoria you feel will travel with you well after the weekend is over. If you’re reading this and having some remorse about not being able to land a ticket, don’t give up now! The Electric Forest Family Facebook group is constantly helping people sell their tickets to people who would really appreciate the experience.
All I can say to first timers is be ready for the best weekend of your life. If this isn’t your first Forest, find out how to make it better. As Electric Forest grows larger and larger, it’s going to need it’s veterans to keep the spirit that was once Rothbury instilled amongst all the new fans. After all, everyone is there for one reason, music. With such a homogenous spirit circulating in such a magical place, there’s absolutely no reason not to have the most incredibly time that you could possibly fathom. Here’s to making 2016 the best Electric Forest yet fam :)
Written By: Cooper Turley