A new message popped up this morning on the website of Electric Forest: in the words of one Alan Watts, “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
Electric Forest — which was scheduled to hold its “10th Anniversary Celebration” June 25-28, in Rothbury — announced today that “based on input from state and local authorities regarding public gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic” it has cancelled its 2020 event.
But Electric Forest will “move with” the changes and invite its fans to “join the dance” when dancing in the forest is next allowed.
The music and camping festival, which sold out within one hour of its public on sale last December, is now moving ahead with plans for 2021, including offering ticket holders the option of receiving a refund or to retain their wristbands/tickets and camping reservations, which will be honored at what is now calling its “2021 Decade One Celebration”.
“In times like these we are grateful to stand strong with you as the Forest Family,” the official statement from Electric Forest and Madison House Presents reads. “We are eternally thankful to the family members who come together to create so much each year. This includes the artists, actors, builders, food and craft vendors, law enforcement, medical partners, operations teams, production teams, supply partners, and so many others who individually or collectively make Electric Forest so very special and unique.
“We are stronger as a community than we are as individuals. Knowing that we will all gather again soon will remain a bright spark and a guiding light — and we will build our moment together.”
For the complete statement with all the details from Electric Forest HQ, read it here.
Electric Forest, on first glance, may be a strange place for military veterans to get their heads straight, their lives moving forward, but stories of aimless Vietnam veterans who found themselves by taking the dirt road to the first Woodstock festival in 1969 have become the stuff of generational legend and film documentary.
So it is not surprising that the Electric Forces veterans support effort at the annual West Michigan music festival has become a vital part of the rainbow fabric of the music, arts and cultural event.
And this year, under the wishful thinking of Michigan resident, veteran and longtime Forest Family member Angela — at the festival, first names are all that’s really needed — in partnership with Electric Forest’s Wish Machine, more veterans than ever before found a home in The Forest.
Invited to make the Forces program more understood and accessible to West Michigan veterans, WKTV interviewed six members: Charles, 25, a U.S. Marines veteran; Jeremy, 23, U.S. Navy; Jessica, 32, U.S. Army; Kyle, 30, Army; Greg, 28, Army; and Nate, 36, Navy.
The six come from different parts of the county — one identified himself as being a “gypsy — as well as different military and life experiences, and, when you drill-down, different reasons for plugging into the Forces. But when you listen, all six talk about the “community” they have become part of.
Kyle (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“There is a community here, I think,” said Kyle, who served until 2009 and has been at the festival five times over the years. There is “a veteran’s community, a community of people I have met. … I came to (Electric Forest) back when I got out, and that was such a big part of my healing process. Coming back to the forest has just become automatic.”
The Electric Forces program started in 2013, and it has grown in both size and scope over the years. And, while it may morph as years pass, it will likely continue.
“Electric Forest HQ is committed to continuing the Electric Forces program, collaborating with those veterans who have been with us since the beginning, and providing expanded opportunities for new veterans to join the experience,” Jeremy Stein, Electric Forest founder and director with Madison House Presents, said to WKTV.
“As we have understood from the program’s inception, Electric Forces will continue to evolve. Each year we gain a deeper understanding of what kinds of experiences and opportunities are of most value to our young veterans, both as individuals and as a community, and about how the program and the festival community as a whole can best support.”
The Electric Forces panel conversation hosted at The Brainery on the Sunday of the second weekend. (Supplied/Electric Forest)
The continuing evolution of Electric Forces
Initially, and still, veterans can apply to use their skills and willingness to learn to be part of the “build crew,” which quite literally builds the stages, temporary buildings and pathways, and whatever else needs to be built on the grounds of the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, which has hosted Electric Forest festival annually since 2011. (There was a music festival on the site for two years prior to Electric Forest.)
But the Electric Forces also includes participants who work in artist relations, visitor hospitality, and high tech and sound engineering.
And this year, the continued expansion of the Electric Forces program was also the first wish granted by Electric Forest’s “Wish Machine”, a new-in-2018 fan participation initiative which encourages the Forest Family to “spread positivity beyond the Forest and into their everyday lives,” according to supplied material.
The Wish Machine “called upon everyday heroes to be the change they wish for in the world” by asking fans to submit ideas, specifically what they were willing to do to have their wish granted.
And that means more stories like those of Nate, Greg, Jessica, Charles and Jeremy.
Charles, Jeremy and Jessica. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Every picture tells a story, don’t it?
While all of the veterans in the Forces contribute their past experiences, their personal story, to the festival, some are looking to the future as well.
Nate (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Nate, who got out of the service in 2017, is now going to school for radio production, so being at the Forest is a chance to get real-world career experience, make some connections — to become part of another “community.”
“I am working with the sound engineers on the Jubilee Stage … actually three or four of the stages … doing everything that goes into he sound,” he said. “A lot of the technical stuff we have been learning at school, this is an opportunity to get hand’s on.”
Greg (WKTV/K.D Norris)
For others, the jam/EDM/alt-eclectic musical mix at Electric Forest provide healing sounds.
“The Forest, the concerts, I think, are a real healing place,” said Greg, who has been to the Forest once befoe, in 2012, before being accepted into the Forces program. “I used to go to concerts every weekend. It would help me destress. The dancing really helped me feel less depressed and more energetic.”
Jessica (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
For some, it is a place to help veterans who are often overlooked when it comes to veterans support programs.
“Being a female veteran can be a little hard, because you sometimes get overlooked,” said Jessica, who is in her first year with the Forces but had been to the Forest previously. “There are female veterans out there, but we don’t necessarily ask for help too much because most people don’t know what we are going through. … Female veterans have issues too.”
Charles (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Others see the ethos of the festival as being not unlike that in the military, you bring something to the team; you get something from the team.
“I bring a sense of ownership to the festival. There is a good culture here where you take care of the space, you clean up after yourself, you take care of each other,” said Charles, in his second year with the Forces, “Coming from the military, that is very easy for us.”
Jeremy (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
For some, the ultimate goal is to connect with people: veterans connecting with non-veterans, and veterans with other veterans.
“I like putting our name out there, letting people know we are here and what we are about,” said Jeremy, who is new to the Forces this year. “Also, on the therapy side of Electric Forces, I would say I am kind of like a rock — that has been my role in most people’s lives. I was, like a shoulder to lean on. I don’t judge what is going on. I just let if flow naturally.
Jeremy’s pig; a conversation starter. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“Being in a group of veterans who have, pretty much, gone through what you are going through, the same thing or something very similar, even if you do not know the person … you know the person.”
That is the way it is with veterans; that is the way it is, often, at the festival.
An opportunity for veterans
For more information on Electric Forces, and to sign up to receive info on how to be considered for participation in 2019, visit here.
The Electric Forest music festival, taking place in late June in nearby Rothbury, is known for its cutting-edge musical explorations and its social relevancy. The festival’s “Her Forest” program — a celebration of modern feminist moods and music — continues that tradition.
This year, the festival — set to run June 22-25 and, expanding this year to two weekends, June 29-July 2 — will expand its Her Forest program with a curated new-music event.
“It’s inspiring to be expanding Electric Forest’s Her Forest program,” Electric Forest’s Alicia Karlin said in supplied material. “It allows us to host an even more diverse and unique lineup of performers at the festival. It’s important to us that Electric Forest continues to offer opportunities for new and distinct talent to share their art.”
Usually long sold-out this close to the festival, general admission tickets are still available for the new-this-year second weekend of the festival.
Performers for the debut of Her Forest curated music event, to be offered on the first week of the festival, were selected from “hundreds of fan submissions auditioning to be part of this unique celebration of women and all they offer to art,” according to supplied material
A scene from Her Forest, part of the Electric Forest music festival. (Supplied)
The winners, and set to perform, are solo DJ/ producer and violinist Alfiya Glow, Indian dance duo The Dance of Anarkali, the California-based duo Heartwurkz, female DJ M.O.B., dance and soundscape artist Frankie Taminal, and singer/piano/looping music player Melody Monroe.
A quick glance at one of the performers:
Alfiya Glow was born in Sochi, Russia, according to her website, and began her violin studies at the age of five and, after just seven months, had her first performance as a solo violinist with the Sochi Symphony Orchestra. In 2009, Alfiya was accepted into Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, and received a full scholarship. She has performed at Lincoln Center in New York City, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, among others. Working in studio with artists such as R. Kelly, Lana Del Rey, and Boyz II Men, encouraged an already strong interest and passion for the musical genres of pop, hip-hop, and EDM, according to her website bio.
Also performing the inaugural Her Forest music event are Lynx & The Servants of Song and Monarch Rachel & Their Royal Court Drag Show.
“Like all of The Forest’s participation opportunities — we call them “Plug-In” programs — this collaboration invites the community to participate in shaping the EF experience,” Karlin said.
The Her Forest program includes a women’s group camp, artist panel, a meet-and-greet with Electric Forest Production Women. Her Forest Circles and Meet-ups also return this year.
The foundation of Electric Forest’s Her Forest initiative is, according to supplied material, based on three pillars: connection, inspiration and comfort.
“Our first goal was to start a dialogue … We knew the Forest Family could guide us in what this program should and could become,” Electric Forest’s Jeremy Stein said in supplied material. “It’s been an amazing collaborative process, and it’s still very much alive and evolving.”
