Electric Forest Festival


Electric Forest is a four-day, one-weekend, multi-genre event with a focus on electronic and jam band genres, held in Rothbury, Michigan, at the Double JJ Resort. In 2017 and 2018, the festival expanded to two weekends back to back, before switching back to one weekend for 2019. The original event debuted in 2008 under the name Rothbury Festival, and focused on jam bands and rock bands. The event was not held in 2010 nor 2020; the COVID-19 pandemic was to blame for the latter. Electric Forest, which began in 2011, is co-produced by Madison House Presents and Insomniac Events. The 2015 event drew an estimated 45,000 attendees.
In 2017, Electric Forest was nominated for Festival of the Year at the Electronic Music Awards.

2008

The Rothbury Music Festival took place July 3 through July 6. The first year saw 30,202 in attendance. This figure is based on Madison House's promise that US$2 of each ticket sold would go toward Grant Township. According to the Muskegon Chronicle, the festival donated $60,404 to Grant Township.

Planning

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

Lineup

July 3

The following performers played throughout the weekend:
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 WMD's 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

The Rothbury Music Festival officially returned in 2009. The second Rothbury was held July 2–5, over Independence Day weekend. The festival's second year expanded the think-tank discussions established the first year and continued the use of sustainable technologies.

Controversy

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. Following the approval of this final hearing, WZZM reported the festival would return in 2009.

Lineup

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

July 2

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

From June 30 to July 3, a new and different festival was held on the same festival grounds, the "Electric Forest Festival". 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 was not accessible to festival attendees again until 2015.

Lineup

The lineup included

2012

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

2013

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

Lineup

The initial lineup, announced on February 5, included:

2014

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

Lineup

The lineup included:

2015: June 25-June 28

2016

Electric Forest Festival was held on June 23–26, 2016.

Lineup

The lineup headliners included:

2017

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

Lineup

The lineup for both weekends included:

Artists appearing in Weekend 1 only

Artists appearing in Weekend 2 only

2018

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

Lineup

The lineup for both weekends included:

2019

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

Lineup

The lineup for 2019 included: