Mixing and Matching at Electric Forest Fest

June 18, 2015

EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and jam bands (think The Grateful Dead/Phish) may seem strange festival mates, opposite ends of the musical spectrum, but mixing these divergent beats on outdoor stages — in this case, at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan — seems to result in mystical festival chemistry that really works. And that’s what makes the Electric Forest Festival a major summer highlight for fans of both genres.

CRASH AND RELAX

Located 2.5 hours from Petoskey and 3.5 from Traverse City, the Double JJ offers different levels of camping to accommodate your budget, whether you’re in an RV or looking to put together tent central with a group of your pals. General Admission camping is the base stay ($279 per person, includes camping/parking/4- day festival pass), but you can amp up your lodging to “Good Life” VIP camping ($675/per person) or suite or cabin stays ($987-$1062/per person). If you’re feeling almost famous, you can even rent an entire log home ($1078/per person) for you and your entourage within short walking distance of the main festival grounds.

LOUNGE AND LAUGH

Speaking of your entourage, if you don’t arrive with one, chances are you’ll have one by the time you leave. EFF is known for its social aspects, with loads of latenight dancing, barbeques, several levels of dining choices and lounges, and lots of conversation-starters like giant art installations, early a.m. light shows and an entire section of the fest solely devoted to hammocks. In between bands, you’ll find plenty to do, from Old Western Town (essentially an adult playground with slides, a water park and more) to watching performance artists, hula-hoopers, acrobats and stilt walkers — or participating in some of these quirky activities yourself. One of the most popular is EFF’s attempt to break the world record for “Largest Group Hug” and they’ll need you for the 10,600 people they need to achieve this lofty goal.

DANCE AND JAM

We’re really here for the music, right? EFF favorite, The String Cheese Incident, is back at the top of the bill and they’ll be playing six sets over the course of the weekend. Galactic is bringing along Macy Gray for an onstage collaboration that’s sure to be a soulful jam standout. Other jams from the likes of Yonder Mountain String Band, Ohio band The Werks, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Ann Arbor’s own Ragbirds will be happening. If you lean more toward the EDM side of things, there are plenty of big names at this year’s EFF sure to get you dancing, including Bassnectar, Skrillex, Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold, Four Tet and John Digweed. Acts like Big Gigantic and Lotus can step with both genres. Two brand new stages — the Hangar and the Jubilee — have been added to take the existing half-dozen stages to a new level of shifting schedules and happily coexisting sounds.

The 2015 Electric Forest Fest will take place June 25-28 at the Double JJ Ranch and Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. Get your festival guide and all the details at electricforestfestival.com.