About Rootpile
More Than a Theme Camp
Rootpile is a place where strangers become neighbors, neighbors become friends, and friends become family.
What began as a simple idea—to bring people together through live music and hospitality—has grown into a community that returns to the Black Rock Desert year after year to create something bigger than any one person could build alone.
Where It All Began
Rootpile was founded by musician Andy Owens, who believed that music had a unique way of bringing people together.
Long before the stages were built and the dance floor filled with dusty boots, Rootpile started with a handful of friends, a love for bluegrass, and a desire to create a place where anyone could feel welcome.
Year after year, that vision continued to grow. More musicians arrived. More volunteers stepped up. More campers called Rootpile home. What started as a small gathering became one of Burning Man's longest-running music-centered theme camps.
Passing the Torch
Communities don't last because of one person—they last because people care enough to carry them forward.
Today, Rootpile is led by the next generation of the Owens family alongside an incredible group of dedicated camp members who continue to build on the foundation that Andy created.
While the camp has evolved over the years, its heart remains the same: welcome people in, share what you have, and leave them with memories they'll carry for a lifetime.
Why Music?
Music has a way of doing something that words alone can't.
It invites strangers to dance together.
It turns spectators into participants.
It creates moments that don't need to be explained.
At Rootpile, music isn't background entertainment—it's the language that brings our community together. Every workshop, jam session, dance lesson, and evening performance is another opportunity to connect with someone you may have never met otherwise.
That's why music remains at the center of everything we do.
Rootpile Today
Today's Rootpile is more than a stage.
It's a neighborhood.
It's a place to learn a new instrument.
A place to share a meal.
A place to dance until your boots are covered in playa dust.
A place to volunteer, contribute, create, and belong.
Whether you're here for a single evening or the entire week, you're part of the story the moment you arrive.
Looking Ahead
Every year brings new ideas, new friendships, and new traditions.
As Rootpile continues to grow, our goal remains simple: build an unforgettable home in the desert where music, generosity, creativity, and community come together.
The faces may change from year to year, but the spirit stays the same.
There's always room for one more chair around the campfire.
We hope you'll join us.
Through the Years
Rootpile has been shaped by thousands of moments—sunrise jam sessions, dusty dance floors, community dinners, late-night conversations, and countless memories shared under the stars.
This gallery captures just a few of those moments. The best ones are still waiting to be made.
[Insert gallery of photos from past Burns]