Summer is slowly winding down and my music festival tour has become just a distant memory. This summer, I was able to take a cross country tour for about a month to soul search and connect with others all while enjoying the universal language of music. I was able to meet so many incredible people with varying stories and accomplishments. Somehow the universe connected all of us together for the perfect weekend to share stories and make memories that will last a lifetime. It seems that just yesterday I was bass thumping in a crowd of like minded individuals.
My vivid memories keep taking me back to the enchanted forest- AKA- Electric Forest. This was my first ever time there, but I felt like I had been going year after year solely because of the connection I felt with other guests, staff members, artists, and the grounds itself. My experiences over that magical weekend motivated me to write this three part post where I will highlight some of my most influential interactions in Rothbury. Any and all Forest attendees understand the importance of reminiscing about the magic that is the forest, and my intentions are to jog those memories and keep the Forest spirit alive.
Getting Set Up
Our “tent city” that expanded into five different (stranger’s) cars
Starting my weekend out right, was the introduction to my new best friends for the next few days. Here we were, six different cars of complete strangers coming together to form a communal tent city. Our demographics spanned from Texas, Colorado, South Carolina, Michigan, and Chicago. We were such a diverse group of people that may or may not have become friends in the real world, but here we were wanting to get to know each other and wanting to experience the festival together. That inaugural first night became an adventure all on its own. We decided to explore the festival grounds before most people were allowed in. Our group of mismatched friends twisted and turned in the forest discovering all that the forest had to offer. Once the Forest wore us out, we returned to out tent city to party until the sun came up. We met so many random people that night, but each of them fit right in and felt like genuine best friends. The forest was already playing match-maker in a series of connecting to total strangers.
Cherub Setting the Stage and Easing our Minds
Cherub’s crowd-involved set to kick off the weekend
Once the festival grounds opened, our tent city (AJ, Teddy, Ariel, Mickey, and myself) decided to join in on the party. Our first show was Cherub and I was so excited to introduce my new friends to his wonderful sound. I was lucky enough to see Cherub at Bonnaroo, but wanted to see them in a different crowd. We decided to grab water before the show so we didn’t get completely dehydrated while we raged.
Of course, we ran into some problems before the show. Luckily, Cherub had also run into some difficulties. Their plane was delayed, thus delaying the show. Perfect, we would have extra time to grab some water. Teddy and I stayed back while the rest of our tent city went into the enormous crowd to fill up the camel-backs. Cherub started playing while Teddy and I totally forgot about our lost warriors battling the water line. I started getting slightly nervous because an hour into the show, the rest of our group was no where to be seen. I thought that we had lost our group and we were all alone for the rest of the night. We started jamming out because there was nothing else we could’ve done but in the back of my mind I was secretly freaking out. We were trying to forget our troubles when all of a sudden, I looked over to see a familiar face. I looked down at her wrist and saw her thousands of fest bracelets and WRR bracelet. It was none other than editor, Megan Robinson! She was a semi-familiar face in a sea of unfamiliar that eased my mind when I needed it most. Forest Fate 1-Brittany’s anxiety 0.
Being in the Forest is like being in a maze of hammocks
Since Megan eased my mind while I was still waiting for my crew, I tried to focus on the music. Cherub was having a fantastic show with great interactions with the crowd, this one being one of my favorites due to the massive fan involvement. Jason Huber, one of the lead singers of Cherub, shouted out to their family members who were in the crowd. He told the crowd that Jason’s dad had been going to Electric Forest for the past few years and that his dad was so excited when he got booked for the show. The crowd reacted with pointing and raising Jason’s dad up so that Cherub could see him. The show ended with Cherub singing and chanting, “fuck the airport” because that was the reason why they had to delay the show. About five minutes after the show ended, our crew found Teddy and I. We were reunited and ready to face the rest of the day! Forest Fate 2-Brittany’s anxiety 0.
Melting of the Faces Featuring Zeds Dead
Zeds Dead after an amazing performance at the Ranch Arena
Leading up to ZD, our crew caught Paper Diamond and The Glitch Mob on the Ranch Arena stage. These groups held down the stage and pumped the crowd up for Ranch’s headlining act-Zeds Dead. I have seen ZD once before at Euphoria, and in the midst of a summer long tour they pretty much melted my face off. This was an especially unique show because this was their last one before the release of their new EP, “Somewhere Else”. The Forest was about to get a sneak peak of their highly anticipated album and ZD did not disappoint at all. Crowds from all over the Forest gathered at the Ranch Arena to party with Zeds Dead. Known for their intricate visual display, their jumbotron show was so entrancing and paired perfectly with their hard beats. The entire crowd was eating up what ZD was serving and the duo could tell. At the end of their brain altering performance, they shouted out to the crowd that this was one of their best shows ever and that they could definitely feel the magic of the forest.
The first part of my Electric Forest adventure turned out amazing thanks to all of the great friends I made, artists I was able to see, and full on experiences I had. Check back here to relive the Forest and read more about the rest of my EF weekend.
Follow Brittany’s adventure of the Forest in this three-part series right here on WRR.
Part Two: Coming Soon
Part Three: In the Weeks to Follow
Photo Cred: Raveon.com, Electric Forest FB Page, Brittany’s personal photos
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don’t regret it
don’t regret it
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