The spectacle in the Rothbury woods wrapped up Sunday, sending tens of thousands of revelers home tired but happy. Check out some of the highlights in this recap and browse four photo galleries.
The Final Ranch Arena Fling: The throngs cheering on Louis the Child late Sunday night. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
SCROLL DOWN FOR THREE PHOTO GALLERIES
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In the end, it rolled out as a welcoming, resplendent, resoundingly revered, rollicking reunion of the Forest Family.
The much-delayed return of Electric Forest to Rothbury over the weekend was embraced by more than 45,000 vibrantly and often luminously bedecked festivalgoers who rambled from stage to stage amid the woods and meadows of the Double JJ Resort, reveling in sets by the likes of internationally revered acts GRiZ, Louis the Child, Sylvan Esso, Cannons and The String Cheese Incident, as well as appearances by regional favorites who included Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, The Accidentals, Chirp, Michigander, Tom Wall and others.
Many drained attendees (including a weary trio of travelers at a Grand Rapids breakfast stop who raved about the friendly and unparalleled festival atmosphere as they reviewed video snippets on their phones), departed late Sunday evening or the wee hours Monday morning with that happy hangover visage: The final sets didn’t end until 2 a.m. or a bit later, with Big Gigantic, Lotus, Sorne and Red Giant Project closing out Electric Forest 2022 on the Sherwood Court, Carousel Club, Honeycomb and Grand Artique stages.
Hippie Heaven: Part of Sunday’s massive turnout. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
“Electric Forest is a magical place,” said attendee and Local Spins photographer Derek Ketchum, of Kalamazoo.
“Two years ago, we thought the days of gatherings like this were over. This weekend was a huge exclamation that nothing can stand in the way of people gathering in mass to celebrate the summer, celebrate the love, and gather in the forest and forget about the outside world, even if it’s just for a weekend.”
Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos compiled some favorite sets and moments from a weekend in the Forest:
• Sylvan Esso gave one of the most energetic performances of the weekend (Friday on the Sherwood Court stage), especially for a two-person band. The spinning, high-kicking energy from Amelia Meath and dialed-in synths and beats from Nick Sanborn created luxurious sonic palette.
• As for one of the wildest sets? It was GRiZ on the Ranch Arena stage very late Friday night, complete with towering flames and laser beam bliss. On Sunday night, he joined electronic duo Louis the Child to play a saxophone solo for a teeming crowd at Ranch Arena.
• Rainbow Kitten Surprise performed the band’s signature brand of indie-rock for a brimming capacity crowd at The Carousel Club (early Saturday morning) while a fleet of hot air balloons prepared for take off along the horizon.
Even the Michigan State Police Hart Post reported that things went relatively smoothly during the four-day festival. An initial tally showed just 7 arrests for assault and other offenses, though a final report hadn’t yet been issued. No deaths were reported.
Local Spins was on hand to capture much of the rest of the action, too (though, of course, it’s literally impossible to canvass the entire festival site when it comes to hundreds of performances over four days on multiple stages, big and small).
Scroll down to view four photo galleries and check out our Day 1 column by Olmos here: Electric Forest ramps up in Rothbury with magical opening-day marvels, uplifting fans
PHOTO GALLERY: Electric Forest (The Stages, The People)
Photos by Loren Johnson
Photos by Derek Ketchum
Photos by Anna Sink
