By: Anand Harsh

Ahh November. The leaves turn and fall and wither away, and all anyone cares about is the release of the Electric Forest lineup. Since moving to two weekends last year, much anticipation has circulated as to who would be making it onto the bill this year (and to which weekend would go the best spoils), and frankly, it's a solid tie between these back-to-back monster festivals.

Returning to Double JJ Ranch & Resort in Rothbury, Michigan from June 21-24 and then again June 28-July 1 are the mainstays of the lineup, The String Cheese Incident and Bassnectar. Festival producers Madison House Presents and Insomniac have made it abundantly clear that these are the festival hosts and can be counted on to return each year. String Cheese is once again performing 2 shows per weekend, with special sets occuring on the Saturday of both weekends, which has also become affectionately known as Bassnectar night.

On the hightlight front, GRiZ Live Band will be performing both weekends, and fans get some Green Velvet action the first weekend with his Claude VonStroke combo Get Real the following weekend. It's Michigan, after all, so Grant Kwiecinski's home state and the techno epicenter are well repped.

The Untz Festival alums are also well represented by Desert Dwellers, Space Jesus, Marvel Years, EPROM, and The Werks. Some of our faves like CloZee, The Russ Liquid Test, EOTO, Emancipator Ensemble, G Jones, REZZ, Golf Clap, LUZCID, Moody Good, Mr. Carmack, and MuzzY Bearr will be making the trip. Non-electronic standouts include Toubab Krewe, Washed Out, and hip-hop standout Lil Dicky.

Loyalty tickets are on sale December 7, and the general public will be able to score tickets December 15. The first weekend sold out almost immediately this year, and it's looking like the second weekend might go quickly, as well, so we encourage everyone to monitor electricforestfestival.com with a steady eye.