Electric Forest is a multi-genre music festival produced by Madison House Presents and Insomniac Events, with a focus on electronic music and jam band genres.

Electric Forest
GenreJam bands, electronic music
DatesLate June/early July
Location(s)Rothbury, Michigan, U.S.
Years active2011–19; 2022–
FoundersInsomniac Events & Madison House Presents
WebsiteElectric Forest Festival

Originally named Rothbury Festival in 2008, it is held in Rothbury, Michigan at the Double JJ Resort. Rothbury Music Festival took place in 2008 and 2009 and was on hiatus for 2010.

In 2011, the event debuted under its current name, Electric Forest. The event was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people attended the most recent festival in 2023.

The 2024 festival will be the 12th Electric Forest.

2008

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The Rothbury Music Festival took place on July 3–6. The first year saw 30,202 in attendance.[1]

Planning

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On February 13, 2008, the initial lineup was released. By February 25, four additional artists were added. Steel Pulse was added on March 13, and seven artists were added in April. On May 29, the lineup was complete after six additional artists were added, including Trey Anastasio of Phish.[2]

The spark of the idea came from Philip Blaine and Jeremy Stein, on the side of the stage, during Crystal Method at Rothbury. Then Phil brought this vision to Insomniac. From there, Electric Forest came into existence.

Lineup

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Additional performers

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The following performers played throughout the weekend:

Notable collaborations

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Several members were present from their respective bands: The String Cheese Incident, Phish, Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers Band. Following the addition of the Kyle Hollingsworth Band to the lineup, all six members of The String Cheese Incident were present in separate bands: Bill Nershi played with the Emmitt Nershi Band, EOTO is composed of Jason Hann and Michael Travis, Keith Moseley played in the WMDs who accompanied Keller Williams, and Michael Kang played with Panjea. Three of the four members of Phish were present: Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman, and Trey Anastasio. Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart, of Grateful Dead fame, also performed in their respective bands. Two of the current members of the Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule and Derek Trucks, performed in distinct bands.

David Murphy, of STS9, joined the stage with the Disco Biscuits during their Thursday night set.

2009

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The Rothbury Music Festival (not the Electric Forest Festival) officially returned in 2009.[3] The second Rothbury was held July 2–5, over Independence Day weekend.[4] The festival's second year expanded the think-tank discussions established the first year and continued the use of sustainable technologies.[5]

Controversy

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Because of concerns over the ownership of the ranch, as well as the potential sale of the festival grounds, there was originally uncertainty about whether a second festival would be held in 2009. A major hurdle was overcome when a federal bankruptcy judge cleared the way for a lease of the festival property between the bankruptcy trustee and AEG. A second hearing was necessary to determine if the lease was valid, because part of the land used by the festival was on a sheriff's deed and needed to be purchased by the trustee.[6][7][8] Following the approval of this final hearing, WZZM reported the festival would return in 2009.[3]

Lineup

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Before the official lineup was released, there were rumors of artists such as Phish and Tom Petty performing,[9] but this never occurred.

July 2

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July 3

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July 4

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July 5

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2010

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According to an announcement made on Rothbury's official website on January 22, the festival would be "on hiatus" in 2010, but was expected to return in 2011.

2011 - Electric Forest begins

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Electric Forest was co-founded by Pasquale Rotella, founder and CEO of Insomniac, and Madison House Presents' Jeremy Stein, CEO. It was not "Rothbury Festival", a trademarked name. A notable change was the lack of the main "Odium" stage. In its absence "The Ranch Arena" stage became the main stage. The area where the Odium had been was not accessible to festival attendees again until 2015. From June 30 to July 3, a new and different festival was held on the same festival grounds, the "Electric Forest Festival".[10] From Electric Forest's inception in 2011 until 2016 The String Cheese Incident acted as the host band, performing three shows each year (more than any other performer).[11]

Lineup

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The lineup included[12]

2012

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Electric Forest Festival returned to Rothbury from June 28 to July 1. Acts included[13]

2013

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Electric Forest Festival returned to Rothbury in 2013 from June 27 through June 30.[14]

Lineup

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The initial lineup, announced on February 5, included:[15]

2014

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Electric Forest Festival was held on June 26–29, and sold out for the first time.[16]

Lineup

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The lineup included:[17]

2015

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Electric Forest Festival was held on June 25–28, 2015.

Lineup

The lineup headliners included:

  • Dubfire
  • Keller Williams' Grateful Grass
  • Leikeli47
  • Chaz French
  • Adam Deitch (DJ set)
  • Dabin
  • The String Cheese Incident (3 shows)
  • Dixon's Violin (4 shows)
  • Bassnectar
  • Skrillex
  • Kaskade
  • Flume
  • Big Gigantic
  • Break Science
  • Carl Cox
  • Carnage
  • Claude VonStroke
  • Datsik
  • Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
  • Electron
  • EOTO
  • Flux Pavilion
  • G-Eazy
  • Galactic with Macy Gray
  • Gramatik
  • Green Velvet
  • Joe Russo's Almost Dead
  • John Digweed
  • Lettuce
  • Lindsey Stirling
  • Lotus
  • Odesza
  • Paul Oakenfold
  • Phantogram
  • Seun Kuti
  • Shpongle (DJ Set)
  • Tchami (Removed in Phase 2)
  • The Motet
  • Yonder Mountain String Band
  • Alison Wonderland
  • American Babies
  • Black Tiger Sex Machine
  • Borgeous
  • Branx
  • Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires
  • Crizzly
  • Delta Spirit
  • Dopapod
  • Ed Rush & Optical
  • Everyone Orchestra
  • ExMag
  • Freddy Todd
  • Funk Hunters feat. Chali 2na
  • GeoVybe
  • Gibbz
  • Goldfish
  • GoldLink
  • Goldroom
  • Haywyre
  • Illenium
  • JackLNDN
  • Jaga Jazzist
  • Jakubi
  • Joseph
  • KOAN Sound
  • Lafa Taylor
  • Life on Planets
  • Little People
  • Made In Heights
  • Mako
  • MartyParty
  • Matoma
  • Miami Horror
  • Midnight Magic
  • Mike Love
  • Minnesota
  • MJ Cole
  • MOPO
  • Mt Eden
  • Nadus
  • Nattali Rize & Notis
  • Nick Monaco
  • Pan Astral
  • Peking Duk
  • Peoples Blues of Richmond
  • Pete Tong
  • Phutureprimitave
  • Preservation Hall Jazz Band
  • Russ Liquid
  • Sango
  • Skylar Spence
  • Slow Hands
  • Slow Magic
  • Snails
  • SNBRN
  • Son of Kick
  • Soul Clap
  • Superhuman Happiness
  • TAUK
  • TEEMID
  • Teengirl Fantasy
  • The Accidentals
  • The Ragbirds
  • The Werks
  • Trevor Hall
  • U9Lift
  • Vaski
  • Wave Racer
  • Wiwek
  • Wolf + Lamb
  • Yojimbo

2016

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Electric Forest Festival was held on June 23–26, 2016.[18][19][20]

Lineup

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The lineup headliners included:[21]

2017

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For the first time, the Electric Forest Festival was held on two weekends: June 22–25 and June 29 – July 2, 2017.

Lineup

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The lineup for both weekends included:[22]

Artists appearing in Weekend 1 only

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Artists appearing in Weekend 2 only

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2018

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In 2018, Electric Forest took place across two weekends: June 21–24 and June 28 – July 1.

Lineup

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The lineup for both weekends included:

2019

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In 2019, Electric Forest reverted to a single weekend festival, and was held June 27–30, 2019.

Lineup

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The lineup for 2019 included:[22]

2020

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the spring of 2020, Electric Forest considered rescheduling the event[23] for September 2020. The Rothbury Village Council voted to reject the proposed postponement,[24] leading to the complete cancellation of Electric Forest 2020, which would instead return in the summer of 2022.[25][26]

2022

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In 2022, Electric Forest returned after a two-year hiatus, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] The festival took place June 23–26, 2022 in Rothbury, Michigan.

Lineup

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[28]

2023

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In 2023, the festival took place June 22–25, 2023 in Rothbury, Michigan. The first wave of artists was announced in December 2022 followed by an additional wave in March 2023.

Headliners

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  • Odesza
  • Jamie XX
  • Sofi Tukker
  • Gorgon City
  • Illenium
  • Gryffin
  • Lane 8
  • Ganja White Night
  • Fletcher
  • The String Cheese Incident (2 incidents)
  • Zeds Dead
  • Chris Lake
  • STS9
  • Chromeo
  • Above & Beyond
  • Rezz
  • Goose
  • Madeon

Additional artists (alphabetized, second tier)

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  • 070 Shake
  • BLOND:ISH
  • Bob Moses (club set)
  • Channel Tres
  • Chris Lorenzo
  • Cosmic Gate
  • Dabin
  • Diesel
  • Emotional Organes
  • Gashi
  • Golden Features
  • Hayden James
  • Infected Mushroom
  • ISOxo
  • Kai Wachi
  • Kerala Dust
  • Opiuo
  • Peekaboo
  • Rusko B2B Dirt Monkey
  • Sad Night Dynamite
  • San Holo
  • SG Lewis
  • SVDDEN DEATH presents: VOYD
  • Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
  • Two Feet
  • Virtual Riot
  • Walker & Royce

Additional artists (alphabetized, third tier)

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  • Aluna
  • Amémé
  • Apashe (live brass ensemble)
  • Austin Mills
  • Azzecca
  • Black Carl!
  • Bontan
  • Champagne Drip
  • Cid
  • Cimafunk
  • Coco and Clair Clair
  • Daily Bread
  • Daniel Allan
  • Danielle Ponder
  • Devault
  • Disco Lines
  • Dixon’s Violin
  • DJ Brownie
  • dj topgun
  • Dogs in a Pile
  • Dr. Fresch
  • Eazybaked
  • Elohim
  • flipturn
  • Ford.
  • Forester
  • Freddy Todd
  • HUGEL
  • J. Worra
  • Jantsen
  • Jellybean Benitez
  • Jupiter & Okwess
  • Kainalu
  • Kasablanca
  • Kasbo
  • Lee Foss
  • Malón
  • Memba
  • Miane
  • Mobley
  • N3ptune + Rusty Steve
  • Neighbor
  • Noizu
  • Pawpaw Rod
  • Phantoms
  • Politik
  • Raecola
  • Rohann
  • Rossy
  • Saka
  • Satin Jackets
  • Snakes and Stars
  • Space Wizard
  • Tabe B
  • Thumpasaurus
  • Tkay Maidza
  • Truth
  • Very Nice Person
  • Yunè Pinku
  • Zingara
  • Plus the Silent Disco, Curated Events, Daily Yoga, and more

2024

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The 12th Electric Forest Festival was scheduled to take place June 20–23, 2024. The first wave of artists was announced on December 5, 2023, with an additional wave expected to follow in the spring. Loyalty tickets went on sale beginning on December 4, 2023, with tickets for the general public going on sale on December 8, 2023.

Headliners

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  • Everything Always (Dom Dolla + John Summit)
  • Nelly Furtado
  • The Disco Biscuits
  • Ben Böhmer
  • Knock2
  • Pretty Lights
  • Ludacris
  • Black Tiger Sex Machine
  • The String Cheese Incident (2 inciddents)
  • Subtronics
  • John Summit
  • LSZEE (Clozee + LSDREAM)
  • Excision
  • Charlotte de Witte
  • Gigantic NGHTMRE
  • Umphrey's McGee

Additional artists (alphabetized, second tier so far)

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  • Atliens
  • Barclay Crenshaw
  • Brass Alarms FB
  • Cannons
  • Chase & Status
  • Cuco (DJ set)
  • Dimension
  • Drama
  • G Jones
  • Green Velvet
  • Kenny Beats
  • Lettuce
  • Libianca
  • LP Giobbi
  • Matroda
  • Mau P
  • Neil Frances
  • Rawayana
  • Vini Vici
  • Whyte Fang
  • Wooli

Additional artists (alphabetized, third tier so far)

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  • Acraze
  • Alleycvt
  • Ayybo
  • Calussa
  • Caspa
  • Cassian
  • Coco & Breezy
  • Dirtwire
  • Dixon's Violin
  • DJ Tennis
  • Dumpstaphunk
  • Eggy
  • Hamdi
  • INZO
  • It's Murph
  • Juelz
  • Le Youth
  • Level Up
  • Luci
  • Lyny
  • Maddy O'Neal
  • Major League DJz
  • Mascolo
  • Michaël Brun
  • Oden & Fatzo
  • Paperwater
  • Peach Tree Rascals
  • Ranger Trucco
  • Sammy Virji
  • Sayyyter
  • Sultan + Shepard
  • Tsha
  • Venbee
  • Vnssa B2B Nala
  • Westend
  • Will Clarke
  • Plus: Curated events, the silent disco, daily yoga, and much more

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Official: ROTHBURY attendance could double next year". mlive.com. July 4, 2008. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  2. ^ "Rothbury music festival - news". rothburyfestival.com. May 29, 2008. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Stanton Tang (January 8, 2009). "Rothbury Returns for 2009". WZZM. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  4. ^ "Rothbury Festival – News". Rothburyfestival.com. February 9, 2009. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  5. ^ "Rothbury music festival will have a summer encore". Detroit Free Press. February 9, 2009. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  6. ^ Ter Haar, Meredith (January 5, 2009). "Rothbury Festival might have another chance". WZZM. Retrieved January 6, 2008. [dead link]
  7. ^ Dave Alexander (January 5, 2009). "Update: Close, but no approval yet for ROTHBURY festival". Muskegon Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  8. ^ "ROTHBURY 2009, Judge says OK to lease". Oceana's Herald-Journal. January 5, 2009. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
  9. ^ Troy Reimink (January 5, 2009). "Phish? Tom Petty? The Rothbury rumor mill begins turning after judge's approval". mlive.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  10. ^ "Electric Forest 2011 Poster". Electric Forest Festival. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  11. ^ "Electric Forest Festival :: June 30 - July 3, 2011 :: Rothbury, Michigan". Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  12. ^ "Electric Forest 2011 Lineup". Electric Forest Festival. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  13. ^ "Electric Forest Lineup 2012". Electric Forest Festival. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  14. ^ "June 27-30 It Is! See You At Electric Forest 2013". EDM Lounge. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  15. ^ "Electric Forest 2013 Lineup". Electric Forest Festival. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  16. ^ "Electric Forest 2014 Date Announced". Electric Forest Festival. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  17. ^ "Electric Forest 2014 Lineup". Electric Forest Festival. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  18. ^ "Electric Forest 2016 Date Announced". Electric Forest Festival. Retrieved February 7, 2016. [permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Electric Forest lineup revealed today, on a sub-Reddit thread". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  20. ^ "Electric Forest Festival fans announce 2016 acts". Fox 17 - West Michigan. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  21. ^ "Electric Forest 2016 Lineup". Electric Forest Festival. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  22. ^ a b "2017 Lineup". Electric Forest Festival. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  23. ^ "Electric Forest ⚡🌲 on Twitter: "Greetings Forest Family, #EF2020 is currently moving forward as planned, and will continue to work with the appropriate authorities to produce a safe and healthy festival: / Twitter".
  24. ^ "Electric Forest music festival uncertain this year after date change rejected". April 9, 2020.
  25. ^ "Electric Forest 2020 canceled due to coronavirus pandemic". Mlive.com. April 21, 2020.
  26. ^ "Looking Forward to Electric Forest 2021". Electricforestfestival.com.
  27. ^ "Electric Forest Music Festival returns after two-year pandemic hiatus". WZZM13.com. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  28. ^ "Announcing the Electric Forest 2022 Lineup". Electricforestfestival.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
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43°32′19″N 86°22′03″W / 43.53862°N 86.3674°W / 43.53862; -86.3674