Shazam’s Jason Keck gives us the low down from Burningman, one of the world’s most spectaular, psychedelic and all round mind blowing music events:
Having just gotten back from Black Rock City, Nevada USA site of the annual Burningman Festival, people haven’t stopped asking me, “How was it? What was it like?” So here goes…
I’ve included some pictures to help, but they don’t do it justice. Burningman is more than the art and costumes you see in the photos, it’s the creativity, the innovation and the production level required to put on such an amazing event. It’s also about the music, mostly electronic, but live shows as well. There is no line up, just camp after camp of some guy or girl mixing their favorite tracks and the best ones tend to draw the biggest crowds. A few big names were on show this year including Armen Van Burren and Carl Cox, but the best set I heard was by a DJ named “Mike” from Victoria Canada who played on the Esplanade at 2 am on Tuesday night. We rocked up after a night of cruising the playa on our bikes and decided that THIS was the place to end our night, dancing till our feet hurt. We followed Mike’s gigs that week and heard two more great shows from him by the end of the festival.
Burningman is about the community experience which is so far removed from big city life the most people can’t even imagine the level of civic responsibility and neighborly good will that is such a differentiated part of the experience.
So don’t ask, just go. But be prepared. Bring everything you need to survive for the week including food, water, a dust mask and goggles. Take a tent or a motor home, but make sure to leave no trace and, above all, don’t be a spectator. Burningman is the amazing festival that it is because people get involved and contribute by do the things they enjoy doing, amazingly, for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone else there. Contribute in any way you want, but make sure you contribute.
Hazel Savage Around the world, Gigs/ Events Armin Van Burren, Burningman, Carl Cox
