Home of Black Rock Bluegrass
MISSION STATEMENT
To bring live Bluegrass music and mountain food and culture to the Burns that we attend with the intent to provide interaction with the positive aspects of our southern mountain heritage and to dispel negative stereotypes.
Background
Our founder, Fixxer, first brought Bluegrass Music to Burning Man in 2012. When he first started going to Burns he realized that Burners were his people, but the overwhelming majority of music that he heard was EDM, and he wanted to bring live Bluegrass to the Burner community.
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Rootpile is a mini Bluegrass Festival within Burning Man. Most nights, we will have live performances with Fixxer & Black Rock Bluegrass, and others. Hillbilly food offerings are served on concert nights. If you stop by, you may also find a Bluegrass jam circles around the fire pit, Bluegrass instrument lessons for all levels (on instruments we provide), or perhaps Floyd's Barbershop will be open for Mullet-only haircuts.
Camp
Rootpile campers will get a taste of Hillbilly music, food and culture. We encourage everyone to come to the live Bluegrass shows and participate in other interactivities in camp.
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We take the 10 Burning Man Principles seriously and expect all Rootpile campers to do the same. Communal Effort, Participation, Leave No Trace and the like are integral to the success of our camp.
In addition to their daily Rootpile camp duty shift, all Rooters are encouraged to also volunteer with one of the many Burning Man departments.
Join Rootpile Camp
ROOTPILE'S 2024 CAMP APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN, and we have limited space available for some key roles in camp. We welcome both Virgin and Veteran Burners. Please read all details on our website, and then fill out the application if you think you would be a good fit in Rootpile ThemeCamp.
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Rootpile Musicians
There are many playing opportunities for Bluegrass musicians of all levels who would like to join our camp. There are possibilities for scholarships and for help finding tickets for professional Bluegrass musicians wishing to participate. Learn More Here!
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If you are interested in being a Rootpile musician, email us.