The String Cheese Incident by Erik Kabik/MediaPunch

Over the weekend, Electric Forest returned for its 2025 staging. At its longtime venue of Rothbury, Michigan’s Double JJ resort, the storied electronic summit hosted some of the best artists of the genre and its countless subdivisions, including some significant crossover into the jam world. Leading the charge for instrumental improvisation, as always, were The String Cheese Incident, who have performed at all but two of the festival’s annual stagings since its 2011 debut and spent six years as its official host band.

For their two 2025 incidents, the three-decade progressive bluegrass ensemble brought on its traditional mix of tried and true classics and new covers, amplified by four very special guests. The sextet set off their beloved “Shebang” on Saturday, June 21, following a set from main stage opener and Detroit local Mike Posner. The celebration commenced with the Kyle Hollingsworth original “You’ve Got the World,” followed by old favorites like “Black Clouds” and “Tinder Box” and newer entries like “Lend Me a Hand,” “Eventually” and “Carnival,” which was performed for only the fourth time. The group brought the first frame to a close with a ripping run through “Rosie.”

When The String Cheese Incident returned to the spotlight for their second set, they were joined by a massive “Shebong” prop, forecasting the latter incident’s emphasis on songs inspired by cannabis culture. From an opening treatment of the 2001 Outside Inside essential “Joyful Sound,” the band lit up a crop of electro-acoustic works like “Bhangra Saanj” and “Shantytown” before a showstopping sprint of segued live debuts and sit-ins.

At the set’s midpoint, Posner stepped onstage to contribute lead vocals to a debut of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” then German dance producer Berky supported debuts of Cypress Hill’s “Hits from the Bong,” Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35,” Sublime’s “Smoke Two Joints,” Peter Tosh’s “Legalize It,” Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s “Welcome to Jamrock“ and Musical Youth’s 420-friendly classic “Pass the Dutchie,” which also featured Saxsquatch. To wrap up the electrifying affair, the group welcomed dubstep act Boogie T for a live debut of his own “Dear Weedman,” followed by Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and R.E.M.’s exuberant “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).”

The String Cheese Incident’s next performance will arrive on July 11 with a staging at New Braunfels, Texas’ Whitewater Amphitheater. Find tickets and more information at stringcheeseincident.com. 

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The String Cheese Incident
Electric Forest
6/21/25
Set I: You’ve Got The World, Lend Me A Hand > Black Clouds, Eventually, Carnival, Vertigo > Tinder Box > Rosie
Set II: Joyful Sound > Rumble, Let’s Go Outside, Bhangra Saanj, Desert Dawn > Shantytown, Valley Of The Jig, Mr. Brightside1, Hits From The Bong2 > Rainy Day Women #12 & 352 > Smoke Two Joints2 > Legalize It2 > Pass The Dutchie3 > Welcome To Jamrock2, Dear Weedman4 >, War Pigs4 > It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)4
Notes:
1featuring Mike Posner, 2featuring Berky, 3featuring Berky & Saxsquatch, 4featuring Boogie T