[FESTIVAL NEWS] Electric Forest Impresses With Phase One Lineup Reveal

[FESTIVAL NEWS] Electric Forest Impresses With Phase One Lineup Reveal

[FESTIVAL NEWS] Electric Forest Impresses With Phase One Lineup Reveal

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Electric Forest has recently not only become one of the premier festivals in the midwest, but across the entire country, too.

Recently described by Pasquale Rotella as one of the best festival sites in the world, Electric Forest delivers an eclectic mix of jam bands, EDM, and more year after year. Originally started as Rothbury Festival in 2008, the festival has grown considerably in both size and content, especially since adding Insomniac Events to the production team in 2011. Last year was headlined by the likes of Bassnectar, Skrillex, Big Gigantic, and Flume.

The Forest announced the first phase of its lineup in a very unique way this year. Known as the #EF2016Reveal, several lineup cards were mailed out to various ticketholders. The recipients were then encouraged to tweet a picture or video, which would then be retweeted on the official Electric Forest account. I think this was a huge success; the reveal was an innovative way to involve the “Forest Family” in something simple like the lineup announcement. Getting the lineup in phases throughout the day was much more exciting than a traditional strategy. The first envelope was shared early this morning; the last five artists of the day were announced over ten hours later.

 

Eventually, the full first phase of the 2016 lineup was ready. To no one’s surprise, Forest residents The String Cheese Incident will headline with three sets. Bassnectar will return for the second straight year. Major Lazer is the next headliner revealed, with more to be announced in the future.

Adventure Club, Duke Dumont, Griz, Porter Robinson, Beats Antique, and STS9 round out the next level of artists. Tchami is coming back after cancelling his appearance last year. Rapper Fetty Wap will also be making an appearance, much to the dismay of the Forest faithful.

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The undercard begins with 12th Planet, who played an unforgettable surprise set at the new Jubilee stage last year after a last minute cancellation from Brodinski, making this his third straight Forest. AC Slater comes next, as he brings the rest of the Night Bass crew (Low Steppa, Chris Lorenzo, and more) for a rare appearance at a midwest festival.

The festival is unusually heavy on trap; Flosstradamus, Baauer, Bro Safari, Grandtheft, Party Favor, and other trap influenced artists can be found across the lineup. Other than Caspa b2b Rusko, the dubstep themed Bass Rush stage is notably lacking. Hopefully this changes with later lineup announcements. Jackal, NGHTMRE, and Brillz are among the current bass music acts that I’m looking forward to.

Justin Martin, Louis the Child, Lane 8, and Hippie Sabotage also should not be missed. Scattered across the rest of the lineup are plenty of artists I can’t wait to see, and even more that I can’t wait to discover. Festival season can’t come soon enough!

 

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Michael M. Writer, music listener, festival goer from Chicago, IL.