Electric Forest 2015: The Magic Is Alive And Well

Electric Forest 2015 has come to a close, and once again, it's proven itself to be one of the best festival experiences in the country. Many voiced concerns regarding the integrity of the festival after tickets dried up in record time thanks to the release of this year's earth shattering lineup. The Electric Forest Facebook page was rife with discussion about the prospective crowd this year as well and how it would affect the festival's atmosphere, but any doubts were quickly abated as the date arrived. Having attended in 2014, this was my second Electric Forest and I must say that although the demographic is certainly changing, the magic of the Double JJ Ranch is still alive and well. Instead of doing a traditional review on the fest, I thought I'd instead list 5 unexpected highlights of Electric Forest 2015 which prove that these woods haven't lost their spark. Enjoy! 1) Super Tall Paul And The Jive Joint Elected as Mayor of Electric Forest in 2014, Super Tall Paul returned this year with his own New Orleans Vaudeville themed stage nestled in the Western side of the Sherwood Forest. Performing two featured shows per day, along with plentiful mischief during the intermissions, the Jive Joint hosted impromptu shenanigans across the entire four days of the festival. Inspired by the audience, The Jive Joint served as a whimsical place of endless possibilities, with Super Tall Paul’s partner, Rossome, providing comedic improv the entire way. I found myself coming back multiple times and found it progressively harder to leave after each episode of belly laughing. In combination with the hundreds of other installations and the many performance actors roaming throughout Sherwood Forest, I won't be the least surprise to see The Jive Joint Return next year after such a successful debut. 2) Timber Scouts Insomniac’s hand in Electric Forest’s development has been relatively understated, but this year the force behind Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) was readily apparent in the formation of the Timber Scouts. Anyone who’s attended an Insomniac event such as EDC or Nocturnal Wonderland knows about the purple clad Ground Control, their proactive organization to ensure a safe and fun event for all attendees. Rather than bring Ground Control into Rothbury though, the organizers developed an entirely new organization which fits beautifully into the wonderment of the woods. Sporting neon green shirts and socks, the Timber Scouts roved around the festival grounds all weekend ensuring the safety and happiness of all its inhabitants. Numerous times I saw these folks hanging out with solo foresters, helping out those who may have drank a bit much, and simply keeping the vibes alive. The Timber Scouts were also a part of keeping this year's designated hammock zones in check, as the repetitive wear of years past has damaged the trees. The scouts weren’t aiming to bust anyone with drugs or cause any inconvenience, they merely acted as another measure to preserve the beautiful atmosphere. We definitely hope to see them back next year for more high fives and good vibes. 3) The Giving Tree The layout of Electric Forest is designed as one long path, and the walk from GA campgrounds to Jubilee at the opposite end of the festival grounds will expose you to any number of sights, sounds, and interactions. Various easter eggs can be found throughout the festival, and the lore of years past permeates the atmosphere at every chance (Where is Carl?!). The Giving Tree is no exemption, and yes, it even looks like the benevolent character from everyone’s favorite children’s book. Though it’d be easy to overlook without a second thought, the constant crowd surrounding the Giving Tree is enough to hint at its location if you know what you're looking for. Situated on the far right of the winding path from Tripolee to Ranch Arena, the tree sports any number of surprise gifts in its crevices. Everything from Ring Pops, kandi, condoms, glasses, and gum, to various herbs and powders that police would find quite interesting. Next year, be sure to stop by, give something special and see what goodies you can find. 4) The Hangar Two brand new stages were featured in this year’s Electric Forest, The Hangar, and Jubilee, both of which drew quite a following over the four days. While Jubilee was centered around live performances, hosting acts such as Eoto, Break Science, Hoop Troupe, and Lindsey Stirling, The Hangar offered a more thematic escape. Modeled after a steampunk influenced 1950’s airplane hangar, the massive structure housed everything from a real barbershop, a massage parlor, a tattoo parlor, and even a “brothel” you'd have the pleasure of scantily clad ladies read poetry. All of these attractions carried on to the soundtrack of electronic infused doo-wop, and the structure served as a home for legendary acts like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Truly a microcosm of the entire festival, The Hangar was a brilliantly executed stage and we can’t wait to see how it evolves for next year. 5) The All Friends Campsite After Party Electric Forest has always been peppered with surprise shows and unexpected collaborations, but this year played that element up to the utmost degree, with everything from Lindsey Stirling joining the Everyone Orchestra to Skrillex jamming with The String Cheese Incident. Still, they can’t compare to the surprise shows that popped up around the campgrounds on the final night. Titled "All Friends," this natural extension of the weekend featured epic after parties in the intimate setting of the campgrounds. I've heard of other performances around the grounds, but my particular experience led me to the Big G and Cherub show at the RV lot. Following Big Gigantic’s massive headlining performance at Sherwood Court, Jordan of Cherub met up with Big G’s Dominic Lalli at the RV campgrounds for a final hoorah and what was most certainly one of the most memorable moments of the weekend. It’s really a manifestation of the overwhelming unity felt throughout the entire festival, breaking down barriers between genres, fans, and people of all walks, only to construct a new understanding of one another. The beauty of Electric Forest is that no two years are the same, and no experience is comparable to another. In my two years of attending the festival, I've had two wildly different experiences, neither better or worse, simply different. It's a festival that's grown out of the humblest of beginnings and has continued to evolve and reinvent itself every year. This change is the very reason why thousands make the exodus every year to return, and it's a testament to the powerful nature of the place. There are countless opportunities for spiritual growth, enlightenment, and those four days can offer priceless guidance through difficult times. For many, myself included, Electric Forest is much, much more than just a music festival.