Electric Forest Shifts in Shape, but its Heart Remains the Same

Every year, Electric Forest pushes the boundaries of creativity. The Forest may evolve, but its heart still beats to the same rhythm.

Electric Forest is unlike any other festival. There are countless activations to explore, unmatched stage production, a variety of musical bookings, and a culture that is unparalleled.

No matter how many times you have attended Electric Forest there is always something new to dive into. This year was no different. The Forest may shift in shape, but the energy it provides always leaves attendees’ hearts full, their vision for life grander and more clear than before.

The art transformed, the color palettes evolved, and new experiences unfolded through laughter and wonder. Even still, Electric Forest provided a constant reminder that making the trek to Rothbury will always provide fond memories, friendships, and core memories to be unlocked.

They say the Forest provides, and that was my experience from the very moment I met my neighbors while setting up camp.

Attending Electric Forest solo can be daunting at first — but as soon as you begin to unpack, the magic begins. This year, there were a handful of options to explore while getting to my camp.

There was no group to follow, plenty of lots to choose from, and I ended up in Camp AC. Although the trek to get into the festival was long at times, I would not have traded it for the world. The neighbors I happened to camp next to adopted me into their group, and we spent much of the weekend together.

Calvin, Phil, Matt, and Rachel drove all the way from New Jersey, and they brought with them love, care, and belly laughs. Having flown in from San Diego, I was only able to travel with a limited amount of camping gear, and they were kind enough to share their shade, offer slaps of the bag, indulge in silly brainstorms (shout-out The Adventures of Pickle and Gator), and invite neighbors to play on their light-up chess board. We talked about life, the music we wanted to see, and simply let go of the real world — if only for five days.

Each stage had its charm, but I spent a lot of my time where the most special energy could be found: The Trading Post, produced by The Grand Artique and Sherwood.

My home away from home, The Trading Post, was where I found myself much of the weekend. Between its hospitality, comfort, and new music, this stage was the perfect place to stop as I wandered from each end of the festival.

The lineup at The Trading Post was relentless from day one. TomCat Trumpet elated attendees with an incredibly inspiring set, playing beautiful brass riffs that echoed throughout the Forest and lured in anyone who walked by. Full of high-energy dance segments and ethereal, melodic tunes, TomCat’s performance set a high bar for the entirety of my Forest experience.

Not only did The Trading Post bill up-and-coming artists like Kiyoka, Cam Steen, and NSEK, but it also had huge bookings like AHEE, Louis The Child, and Of The Trees. Attendees could get up close or observe from one of the elevated viewing areas at this intimate, intricately built stage. In true Trading Post fashion, the weekend came to a close with an explosive family set from Red Giant Project, who performs with an all-star group of artists combining an eclectic mix of soul, hip-hop, trap, and more.

When it comes to stage production, I was mesmerized by many performances at Sherwood Court. In fact, I experienced my favorite sets of the weekend here. Caribou in the Forest is something I will never forget. Taking the stage at Sherwood just as the sun went down, he simultaneously brought me to tears and kept me dancing as I smiled from ear to ear.

Caribou played through a plethora of his songs — like “Never Go Back,” “Sun,” “Odessa,” and “Honey” — before ending with his ultimate feels track, “Can’t Do Without You.” Each jam was intricately woven into the next, with the lattermost at the crescendo.

One of my other favorite sets at Sherwood was the Denver-based electronic jam band Sunsquabi. As they just released their newest self-titled album, it was amazing to hear a new set that spanned their entire discography.

Wandering the Forest always delivers, and anytime I went into the Carousel Club, I was greeted with an open dancefloor and top-tier music.

Nimino performed my favorite set at Carousel Club. It was emotional, upbeat, and one of the few times I met up with friends from home. Even hundreds of miles away from the West Coast, I was able to see familiar faces as we all enjoyed the blissful tunes of Nimino.

The only letdown at Carousel Club was when I got there early to see Midnight Generation only to find out they were not able to make it. They also missed their DJ set at Honeycomb, and I’m still unsure why.

I did not let this dagger to the heart damper my Forest experience. I used this opportunity to go back to camp, recharge, link up with my mates, and scheme a plan for the rest of the night.

On my walk back to camp, as I was passing Tripolee, I stumbled into Daniel Allan, and we were both wearing the same garment. It was his tour merch, a T-shirt that read “I went to this T-shirt and all I got was this concert.” It was a distinct reminder that even when one door closes in The Forest, there are unfathomable experiences waiting to be unlocked elsewhere.

Although the music drove much of my experience at Electric Forest, there were so many funny, non-musical moments that stood out.

On Sunday at The Ocular Organ, I rested in a hammock while my campmates played chess. This is when I saw Bowser take a seat at the organ and begin playing the classic castle music from Mario. Princess Peach ran out into the middle of the set, only to be captured by Wario. Who was to save her? Flying in to save the day was Luigi, who tried his darndest to save Princess Peach from the villain’s clutches.

Luigi was thwarted by Wario’s power and became one of his prisoners, too. When all hoped seemed lost, in came Mario! He took a bite of an unassuming mushroom and gained the necessary powers to save his beloved brother and Princess. I could not believe what I just witnessed with my very own eyes in The Forest. The great lengths attendees go to provide fairytale stories for others is astounding.

I could not believe this group of friends pre-planned a theme day and skit just to act it out at The Ocular Organ. In addition to the Mario skit, if you found yourself at the Chapel late at night, you were met with an incredible performance from The Strawberry Disco Circus, who enchanted onlookers with acrobatics, stilt walkers, and other performance art.

As Electric Forest came to an end and I took a long walk back to camp early Monday morning, I could not help but feel so grateful for the entire experience.

I had an idea of how Electric Forest would go this year. I saw many sets that blew me away and made memories that would sound like complete nonsense to those who have not experienced Electric Forest. That’s the beauty of The Forest, though. I also missed some sets I really wanted to see for the sake of prioritizing rest, hydration, and sustenance — but in true Forest fashion, it provided a sense of belonging and wonder that can only be found there.

I am already counting down the days until next year. Although I have to approach Electric Forest differently as I get older, the heart and culture of the festival remain the same. It doesn’t matter how far you travel, whether you attend solo or with a group. There are countless memories to be made.

The community and people that attend Electric Forest are one of a kind. They’re the and the reason I will keep coming back. Until next year, Electric Forest. Thank you for another wonderfully magic year.

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