Electric Forest always feels like a homecoming, but 2025 felt different. With upgraded production, surprise pop-ups, and a lineup that spanned all corners of dance music, this year proved why Forest isn’t just a festival—it’s a world of its own.
The magic began long before gates opened. That drive up to Rothbury, Michigan always builds anticipation, and this year it felt even more electric. New art installations, extended hours, and more genre variety meant there was something to get lost in for every type of raver.
Tripolee: Forest’s Welcome Party
Tripolee, Electric Forest’s “front yard” and one of its most iconic stages, felt bigger and better this year. Shade structures were added throughout the bowl, and improved sound coverage made it easy to enjoy sets no matter where you were in the crowd.
Friday’s BASSRUSH takeover hit hard, with Wreckno, Ray Volpe, and Tape B all delivering high-energy, crowd-pleasing sets. Late-night belonged to Sub Focus, Culture Shock, Dimension, and 1991, whose back-to-back blew up the stage into a drum & bass frenzy. Earlier in the weekend, artists like Sara Landry brought dark, driving techno to Tripolee—proving how versatile the stage can be.
The Ranch Arena: Peak Forest Moments
As always, The Ranch Arena was where the emotional peaks happened. Zeds Dead’s closing set brought the entire festival together, with fireworks lighting up the sky and the duo dropping fan favorites to a sea of Forest Family. If you ever need a reminder of what this scene is all about, it’s moments just like this.
Honeycomb: The Secret Weapon
A surprise standout this year was Honeycomb, an immersive stage under the trees that felt like a house party deep in the woods. With new viewing platforms, upgraded speakers, and floating LED art, it delivered some of the most intimate but high-impact sets of the weekend. Sub Focus’ sunset slot had the crowd in a groove, and Whethan turned the place into a future-bass rave on Thursday.
Late-Night Forest Energy
You can’t talk about Electric Forest without talking about Sherwood. Late at night, it becomes something out of a lucid dream. Every path leads somewhere strange and wonderful—live painters, immersive installations, and maybe even a surprise roller rink set from Boogie T inside The Dream Emporium.
It’s these in-between moments that define the Forest. The moments where you’re not watching a set—you’re just exploring. That’s where the true magic happens.
Article & Photos by Harrison Lupfer
Premier EDM 