Goldrush: The Wild West of EDM

Gold Rush 2024 took place out in Phoenix, AZ onOctober 4th-5th, 2024. This festival signaled the start of festival season in Arizona. The heat from the summer is finally going down and the vibes are going up. 

Taking place since 2017, this festival is the cross between old west themes and Arizona’s electronic music culture. This year’s theme, Gold Rush: Wild Card, showcases desert-style saloons/games and mixes in modern music culture. We had our offical correspondant Mariah Bowie aka HurricaneRaver as our boots on the ground giving us all the scoop!

Overall how was your Goldrush experience?

🌀My goldrush experience was fantastic! It had been almost 2 years since I attended an Arizona festival but Goldrush has been on my radar to attend for years. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into a rave fam from LA, we actually stayed at their grandparents house for the weekend. So when we were not raging, we ate home cooked food and were able to relax. I ended up watching a lot of unexpected sets because I picked to hang out with people I don't get to see very often as opposed to seeing everything I like. It's important in one's raving career to experience new artist from time to time. But my favorite feeling this festival left me with was that warm fuzzy I know I'm not alone.

What were some activities that the festival had aside from its stacked line up?

🌀Beat Box had a large installation where you could win prizes and they had a seesaw for the grownups to play on. Kandis world of course came through with the Kandi making station for those that didn't have time or forgot to bring some to trade with others. There were a few stations with free samples, I ended up trying three different flavors of cactus water. Inside the VIP there was a Glamor Garden where you could get your hair and makeup done.

Which was your favorite set and why?

🌀This is a difficult question so I'm going to break it up it categories. My favorite new upping coming set was Nealson. His energy and stage presence was immaculate. Definitely someone who loves what he does and it shows. The surprise favorite set was Shermanology, I loved the live singer that accompanied the DJ on stage. And finally the sets that never disappoin, Death Pact. They have been a favorite since the first time I caught a set which also happened to be the last time I was on Arizona. We love a full circle moment! Finally, one of the main reasons I wanted to attend Goldrush: the Slander set. Not only did they bring out Blanke to play some new music, but the emotional roller coaster they put me on is unmatched. Thank you to the strangers and friends that comforted me during the set when you experience the definition of love being gone hearing the song live hits a little harder. But amongst the sad tears there are always happy ones and Arizona I will becoming back to you.

How would you describe the layout of the festival? Also, getting in and out of the festival?

🌀The festival layout was very easy to navigate, it was pretty much a straight line. The two bigger stages were at the ends (Paradise Prairie and Moonrise Mountain) with the others in between. Coyote Cove was actually inside of a warehouse building with AC which was essential to beat the heat. The sound cabin art car looked like a huge playground pirate ship. And finally, the cowboy corral was where the silent disco was held where two DJ played at once and you picked between the two stations.

What do you think makes this festival unique compared to other festivals you’ve attended?

🌀The inside stage with a bit of AC was definitely something this east coast girlie needed to beat the heat but overall the theme of this festival is the stand out. If you don't want to wear typical rave outfits, the western theme (cowboy hats, boots and chaps) stands out and people definitely commit to the theme. Yee haw!

What was your least part of the festival?

🌀The one concern I had for the festival was the one water station. There was another in VIP at the Paradise Prairie however, the main water station for GA was between the two main stages. It was very hot over the weekend and it's very hard to convince people to miss a part of their favorite set just to fill up on water. People being me, I am people.