10 Best US Music Festivals of 2013
Burning Man
Late August/Early September
Burning Man Festival triumphantly makes our list at the #4 spot, an innovative and over-the-top festival held annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada — i.e., the middle of nowhere. Wave goodbye to civilization and prepare for the ultimate mind-opening experience possible in the US music festival circuit.
Organizers go out of their way to create a naturally sustainable ‘city’ that leaves no footprint behind after the final day of activities. Rules are completely liberal here: clothing is optional, you can pay for dried wares with dancing, and perhaps the only way to get around is on Frankenstein-inspired bicycles.
It’s a little bit like cheating to consider Burning Man one of the best music festivals as there’s never an official release lineup, but that’s all part of the appeal here. Artists choose to play here relatively unannounced — in the past, prominent DJs such as Armin Van Buuren have partied in the Black Rock Desert. The exclusivity and secretive component of music behind Burning Man ensures that every performance is uniquely special and unlike anything you’ll experience elsewhere.
Temperatures skyrocket out here as you might imagine. It takes a brave soul to endure the elements of Burning Man, but if you’re up to the challenge, Burning Man is an opportunity to radically change your outlook on just about everything.
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