Venturing Into the Wild West of Goldrush Music Festival

Goldrush Music Festival returned to its true home at Rawhide Western Town & Event Center this year, and I was thrilled to experience it all for the first time.

Nearing my ten-year anniversary of attending dance music festivals, I’ve found myself growing more intentional about those I choose to spend my time at. I’m in love with the scene here in Southern California and the endless stream of shows to check out, and some of my all-time favorite events are held here. Though I’ve also been gravitating toward a few fresh experiences, with some of my best festival memories having been made when visiting an event for the first time. These thoughts played in my head as I decided on a brand new adventure for me this year: Goldrush Music Festival in Chandler, Arizona.

I’ve heard a plethora of good things about the Arizona dance music community, namely, how generally kind and accepting they are. How would this scene compare to the very vibrant, prominent one we have here in SoCal? I had only been to a Park ’N Rave held in Phoenix during the pandemic and visited Tempe’s Sunbar to see John Summit in 2021, so I was itching for a full Arizona festival experience.

With Relentless Beats bringing Goldrush back to the beloved Rawhide Western Town & Event Center on September 12-13 and taking full advantage of the event’s Western theme, this seemed like the prime opportunity to branch out of my typical lineup of shows.

After entering Goldrush’s gates, I was met with plenty of space to dance at Golden Gorge, the festival’s main stage.

My first memorable interactions with the Arizona dance music scene came shortly after, as I was met with sweet compliments on my outfit and asked to trade kandi. Right off the bat, I could feel the warmth and acceptance from the local rave scene. Plus, known for being avid headbangers, I could see how the bass-heavy lineup catered to these fans. As William Black took the stage, I warmed up to a bit of melodic dubstep before venturing out to explore the rest of the festival.

Stopping by VIP, I wandered through the expansive area, which featured a beauty bar, viewing platforms, photo ops, freebies, an exclusive laminate, air-conditioned restrooms, and more. The viewing platforms here typically looked packed, depending on who was performing. However, each time I ventured to Pioneer Peak, the big stage on the other side of the festival, VIP was never full. If you’re looking for a heightened experience or to escape GA, VIP would be worth considering.

One of the best aspects of Goldrush, though, was that the event did not feel oversold. I always had plenty of space to walk, and I could easily maneuver around attendees to snag a decent spot in the crowd at any stage. If needed, plenty of space was available at the back of the stages for sitting or regrouping with friends.

Photo Credit: @chadwadsworth_atx

A stroll through Rawhide Western Town solidified my appreciation for the Western theme and the return to this iconic venue.

I now see why fans were elated at the news of Goldrush returning to Rawhide. With the festival taking over the venue’s Western Town and incorporating it into the footprint, little transformation was needed for the already on-brand area. You could venture into most of the small buildings and explore side stages, saloons, a silent disco, plenty of photo ops, activations, vendors, and more. It felt like an excursion into the Wild West, and I was totally immersed in the theme.

My friends and I stopped into the Jeeter activation, which featured a jail cell and props to hold in a photo booth. You also had the opportunity to buy a cowboy hat and have it stitched with your name for free. The Dusty Disco, presented by Red Bull, offered various photo opportunities with neon signs and surprise artist performances, including a second set from Wax Motif.

Embracing my inner basshead for the weekend, I found that each artist tailored their sets accordingly to please the rave community in Arizona.

From explosive sets by dubstep heavyweights like Excision, Space Laces, Eliminate, and Kompany, to other spicy offerings, like Wax Motif’s fiery house music and Wilkinson’s dynamic drum and bass, there was something for everyone to enjoy on the lineup. Performances that took the cake for me on the first day included a powerful, bass-forward set from Dillon Francis and Getter’s Resurrection set. I was most ecstatic to finally catch Getter back in action, basking in his variety of dubstep, trap, rap, and nostalgic tracks that took me back to my early years of raving.

While Saturday’s roster saw the likes of artists such as Benny Benassi, Disco Lines, Major Lazer, and Showtek, the evening’s standout performance came from the debut of ILLENIUM b2b Zeds Dead. From a dreamy intro mashing up a selection of their hit tracks to closing out with a brand new song between them, the set lived up to my expectations. You could clearly tell when ILLENIUM or Zeds Dead was dominating the decks based on their respective styles, but no matter who was playing, the energy at Golden Gorge was through the roof.

Photo Credit: @hsmithmedia x @luisdcolato

Goldrush Music Festival was a true journey into the Wild West of dance music, with the venue providing the perfect backdrop and kind-hearted attendees enhancing the experience.

Between lively jaunts through the Rawhide Western Town, the enveloping stage designs, and performers roaming freely, the event’s theme was brought to life in the best way possible. My only concern is how insanely dusty it was; hopefully, that can be mitigated in the future. Regardless, I do hope it continues to be held here. I can imagine the experience would just not be the same at any other location in the area.

Through inserting myself in the local EDM scene, I was content with what I came across. I can’t recall any major negative encounters with attendees or instances of rudeness; pretty much every fan I spoke to was welcoming and bubbly. At times, I definitely felt like the Arizona rave community was more pleasant than our SoCal scene when it came to certain attitudes and crowd etiquette.

Overall, I’m glad I pulled the trigger on a fresh festival experience for myself. It was a welcome expedition into a new territory, and I’ll always remember my first Goldrush Music Festival. This won’t be the last time I’ll be in Arizona for a show, and depending on next year’s lineup, I may lock in the experience again.

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