Goldfish and Friends Make the Best of Burning Man Experience Amid Chaos

Live electronic duo Goldfish shares how they came together with friends to make the most out of being stranded at Burning Man.

This year, Hurricane Hilary turned Burning Man’s desert dreamworld into muddy mayhem. With over 70,000 attendees stranded, shelters in place, and rumors of Ebola, the event’s ideology of radical self-reliance was put to the test. And of course, burners still found a way to weather the storm. 

From an outsider’s perspective, the aftermath of Burning Man was nothing but a plethora of abandoned bikes, plastic bag-wrapped shoes, and tires taken over by the mud. However, live electronic duo GoldFish revealed an enlightening perspective on Instagram. Boasting a beautiful double rainbow surrounding Black Rock City and campsites collaborating to make the most of the situation, it’s clear that community and creativity reigned supreme.

In the midst of the chaos, an unforgettable pop-up party was born. GoldFish’s video update shared that, in spite of unfortunate circumstances, attendees came together to curate an impromptu night of music featuring legendary producers like Charlotte De Witte, Carl Cox, Vintage Culture, Enrico Sangiuliano, and more. 

Although negativity about Burning Man flooded the internet and the conditions were not ideal, the responses to GoldFish’s post highlighted that plenty of campsites reacted similarly. One person commented, “love this!! we did the same thing at our camp. raved in the semi truck trailer the first night it rained!!” Another comment said, “Sheeeesh, couldn’t think of a better place to be stranded.” 

However, it is not overlooked that being stuck out on the playa was in fact dangerous due to lack of resources. GoldFish also made sure to recognize those who provided aid and ensured safety to everyone. They commented, “Just want to also say: HUGE shout out to the Burningman Org, Rangers, EMS, Burner Bus, fellow Burners and of course our own camp Playground for such professionalism and big hearts to make the most of these tricky conditions!”

While many major news sources were sure to cover the detriment of Burning Man 2023, it’s comforting to see the silver linings. At an event that touts communal effort and radical self reliance, burners found a way to win by showing their tenacity and commitment to caring for each other during this unanticipated situation. 

Learn more about Burning Man here.

Listen to GoldFish’s latest EP “If Summer Was A Sound” below.

Alli Hinchliffe

As a music journalist of 5 years, I’m often found on the dancefloor or writing to express myself. I love learning about the world through exploring new perspectives, traveling, and indulging in art forms that connect people. Born and raised as a beach bum in Tampa, FL, I now live in New York City. From FKJ, Mall Grab, Michael Bibi, and Alix Perez to Amy Winehouse, Louis Armstrong, Lana Del Rey, and Mac Miller, using music to set the mood is one of my simplest pleasures.

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