Feature | Electric Forest Plug In Program 2015
By Scott Bernstein Apr 3, 2015 • 1:00 pm PDT
As summer quickly approaches, with it comes the joy of music lovers across the country: festival season. With the number of music festivals growing each year, its become increasingly more challenging to for promoters to set one event apart from the next.
The Electric Forest festival being held at Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan June 25 — 28, which is taking an innovative approach by continuing to cater to the their most devoted fans by opening up the doors of creativity between promoters and attendees. The result is an integrated platform called the Plug In Program, where fans can come together to get involved to help build and shape the community of the Sherwood Forest.
The Plug In Program is the brainchild of promoter Jeremy Stein of Madison House who has always made bridging the gap between EF organizers and fans a major goal. Today, Lia Holland, the community manager of Electric Forest, helps brainstorm and manage the Plug In Program.
“He [Jeremy] is very focused on ways to deepen the community and the connection within the festival through different ways to get more involved in creating the experience -and this community participation platform is part of that ethos,” said Holland. “I started in 2012 and at the time I had never been to the site, I didn’t quite fully understand Electric Forest and the amazing community that it already had. Once I got out there and saw the venue and saw the possibilities, I became really excited to help grow it long term. We’re constantly coming up with new programs every year; it’s a really fun thing to be a part of.”
The 2015 installment features a variety of programs ranging from something small like sticker designs or playlist submissions, all the way to the Monarch Program – where a male or female fan is crowned Queen or King of EF. Being royalty at the forest comes with both perks and responsibilities. The winner will receive four Good Life camping wristbands along with a personal golf cart chariot to accommodate the Monarch and their royal court. The Monarch will also work closely with staff to help bring their unique idea to the forest. The winner is expected to be announced in the second week of April. Many other programs cater to artists and their creativity with different ways to excel as a photographer, writer or a musician.
The Untz Challenge will return in 2015 serving as a call for all up-and-coming electronic producers to perform at Electric Forest as well as eight other festivals this summer. Another opportunity for prospective musicians to get involved and recognized is through the Instrumental Forester program, which offers an emerging band or solo acoustic act the chance to perform.
One of the more exceptional programs this year extends an invitation to U.S. military veterans to join the Forest Family through the Electric Forces program. Electric Forest is working with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to cater to veterans and their families. The program has a unique and inspirational story true to the spirit of the forest.
The Electric Forces program started in 2014 after two young wounded veterans attended the festival in 2012. After they were so moved by the community the opportunity presented itself to help other veterans adjust to life back home through the deep connections made through music and the community in the Sherwood Forest. The power of telling stories and sharing experiences can help the healing process. The program extends an invitation to veterans and active duty service members centered around the beauty of the festival.
One of the ways service members can get involved is through the Electric Forces Workshop Program, which encourages veterans to share their own unique interests and inspirations that have helped them along the way to recovery. Different interests can help people in different ways, from yoga to sustainable agriculture many different methods of finding peace are presented.
The Electric Forces program also offers veterans the chance to roll up their sleeves and get involved behind the scenes through the Electric Forces Build Crew. This unique opportunity to get involved with the production gives veterans the chance to be creative and support Electric Forest by joining the production team.
This year a program literally aims to unify people through love and break history at the same time. The Plug In Program intends to set a new world record for the largest group hug on Friday, June 26 at 2:30 p,m. Those choosing to hug it out will attempt to break the current group hug record of 10,554 hugging participants.
“It’s all about making it fun for everyone,” said Holland. “I look at the [Plug In] program as a way to create fun not only for the participants but also for our crew and employees. I can’t express enough how helpful and amazing every single person on the Electric Forest crew is.“
Stepping into the festival scene is more than just a way to connect with like-minded people through similar musical interests, but it’s also a step away from reality and the perfect vacation into the unknown. The Plug In program is just another way to let loose and get involved, not only for the fans but for everyone involved in staging the event. Applications are currently under way on a rolling application process. There’s no better way to get involved than to take full advantage of the Plug In Program and help shape the Forest.
Electric Forest ’15 brings the likes of The String Cheese Incident (3 shows), Bassnectar, Big Gigantic, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Galactic with Macy Gray, Yonder Mountain String Band and The Motet to Rothbury this June. Tickets are sold out. Check out the Electric Forest entry in our newly redesigned JamBase Festival Guide.
