ROOTPILE

Andy Owens (Fixxer), first brought Bluegrass Music to Burning Man in 2012. When he first started going to Burns, he realized 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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Mobile 'Pile (formerly Rootpile) is a Burning Man Mutant Vehicle Support Camp that strives to provide an immersive experience into Southern music, food, and culture. We typically have nightly live performances with The Rootpile Allstars, Black Rock Bluegrass, and others on our 3 Bluegrass Mutant Vehicles, which we will take out on the Open Playa of Burning Man. Our main camp stage doubles as a mutant vehicle, Possumbility & Rolling Thunder Bluegrass Art Car. Our other two art cars, On Top of Old Smokey and MaxMax will also be driving around Burning Man playing live and recorded Bluegrass music. We will not have scheduled Bluegrass instrument lessons in 2025, but some impromptu lessons may happen as we drive around Burning Man on the art cars. Bluegrass instrument lessons are for all levels, including total beginner, on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bass, and dobro on instruments we provide.

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It is hard to find burners that are already serious Bluegrass musicians, so we often have to turn musicians into Burners. We take care of our virgin Burners, and we encourage you to be a part of Burning Man and Mobile 'Pile.

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There are many playing opportunities for Bluegrass musicians of all levels, as well as Bluegrass music professionals that want to join camp. There is a possibility for scholarships and help finding tickets for professional Bluegrass musicians wishing to participate.

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Music participation opportunities include:

• Playing opportunities for Bluegrass musicians of all levels

• Jammers

• Students for instrument lessons

• Teachers for instrument lessons

• Sound people

• Riggers

• Music Fans who want to support our mission

• Luthiers

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To find out more about Bluegrass musician/music pro opportunities, contact: rootpiletco@gmail.com