For those who have yet to be enlightened, Desert Hearts is more than just a music festival – it’s a movement. Born out of a desire to create a space where people could connect and express themselves freely, Desert Hearts has become a beacon of positivity and creativity in the electronic music community. The festival is built around a set of core values – house, techno, love – that serve as a guiding principle for everything that happens within its borders. At Desert Hearts, attendees are encouraged to disconnect from the outside world and fully immerse themselves in the moment – and thats exactly what attendees did for the 2023 edition of the beloved gathering.
This year taking palace at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, attendees were treated to an unforgettable weekend of dancing, community, and self-expression. The festival’s immersive atmosphere, art installations, and pulsating beats selected by some of the electronic music scenes hottest acts provided the perfect backdrop for a weekend of dancing, community, and self-expression. Keep reading to find out why this years edition of Desert Hearts was so special, and why you should consider attending a Desert Hearts event in the near future.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jake West — @jakewestphoto
The lineup for the 2023 edition of Desert Hearts Music Festival was nothing short of spectacular. Featuring some of the most exciting and innovative names in electronic music, the festival provided a perfect platform for these artists to showcase their skills and connect with their fans. Featuring 2 different stages to choose from, the Desert Hearts stage and the City Hearts stage, and not to mention the music blasted by those working at the vendors section, there was always an option to choose from for whatever groove mood attendees were feeling at any given moment.
Day 1 kicked off the festival strong, featuring early in the afternoon sets from the funky beats of Soul Clap, the progressive and melodic chords of Atish, and an absolutely bangin’ B2B with Rinzen and Enamour. Mary Droppinz definitely lived up to her name droppin’ some serious heat on the crowd, followed up by Desert Hearts crew members Porky and Lee Reynolds who did not fail to get everyone in the spirit of house, techno, love.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jess Gallo — @helloatlasmedia
As the sun set and the festival got darker, so did the track selections coming in from the likes of Prospa, Justin Martin, and DJ Minx, who all knew how to properly carry a party into nightfall. Tiga and Desert Hearts crew member Marbs kept everyone movin’ and groovin’ until it was time for Miss Monique and Desert Hearts head honcho Mikey Lion to cap off the night with only the most satisfactory sounds to send everyone home until the next afternoon.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jess Gallo — @helloatlasmedia
Day 2 built off the momentum of the night prior, starting off the afternoon with Dave Zilla and Color Love keeping the vibes going as the LA sun shined bright upon the Coliseum. Cinthie and Eddy M kept things fun in the late afternoon, and VNSSA and DJ Seinfeld brought some high energy heat to warm everyone up as the sun went down and the vibes went up.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jake West — @jakewestphoto
Aptly playing in the dark, Shaded kept things cool with his live set, followed up by an incredibly rowdy and rompin’ set by the party guy himself, Partyboi69. But thats not to forget about Dusky and Lee Foss getting everyone in their feels on the other side of the venue. Skream brought us an very versatile closing set to wrap up the City Hearts stage, with sounds ranging from dub to disco, house to techno, and a whole lot of other stuff in between. And to end the festival in true Desert Hearts fashion, it was only appropriate to finish the Desert Hearts stage with non other than the Desert Hearts crew manning the decks for a huge b2b2b2b between the founders. The festival was worth attending solely just to catch one of these legendary group sets.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jake West — @jakewestphoto
It would be tough to say that the vibes were anything other than immaculate at this years edition of the historically hippy and trippy Desert Hearts festival. From the moment attendees entered the festival grounds, they were enveloped in an atmosphere of warmth, love, and acceptance. The festival’s ethos of house, techno, love was evident in every aspect of the event, from the stages and lighting to the art installations and even the vendors. People from all walks of life came together to celebrate and connect, creating a sense of unity that was palpable throughout the weekend.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jess Gallo — @helloatlasmedia
It goes without saying that the Desert Hearts production team goes all out for their events, displaying a wide array of various lights, decorations, set pieces, and even flame throwers to fully immerse attendees into the festivals atmosphere. There were plenty of chill out areas to rest your legs and at, along with some of the coolest artists that you could stare at for as long as your desert heart desires. And if you wanted to go shopping during your outing, there was plenty to buy from the likes of vendors selling some of the absolutely coolest clothes, tools, trinkets, and any other ravey piece of gear you could ever want. Theres certainly a little something for everyone when attending Desert Hearts.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jake West — @jakewestphoto
The weather for this year’s Desert Hearts Music Festival in Los Angeles was perfect for a weekend of dancing and outdoor fun. Taking place in early May when the temperatures in Southern California are warm and mild with plenty of sunshine to enjoy, the Los Angeles weather provided the perfect conditions for people to soak up the sun and enjoy the festival’s outdoor activities. During the day, the sun was shining and the temperatures were in the mid-70s. As the sun began to set, the temperatures cooled down, but it remained comfortable, with temperatures in the mid-60s. Overall, the weather was a major contributor to the festival’s amazing vibes, providing the perfect conditions for attendees to dance, connect, and experience the magic of Desert Hearts.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jess Gallo — @helloatlasmedia
Even though this years edition of Desert Hearts was not out in the desert this time, the venue of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum still provided a marvelous space to capture the magic of desert hearts. The iconic stadium has a rich history, having hosted two Olympic Games and numerous sports and entertainment events over the years. For the festival, the outside of the stadium was transformed into a vibrant and immersive playground for music lovers, with tons of fun littered all around. At night, the festival grounds were lit up with colorful lights and projections, creating a surreal and magical atmosphere. It never felt cramped with plenty of space to spread about, and the rich and storied vibes of the USC campus certainly added to the experience. Those fortunate enough to sport a VIP wristband had the opportunity to chill out with a beautiful view of the stadiums field, where countless historic moments have taken place, and will continue to take place. Overall, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was a fantastic venue for the festival, and it provided an unforgettable backdrop for an incredible weekend of music, art, and community.
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jake West — @jakewestphoto
The 2023 edition of Desert Hearts Music Festival was an amazing weekend of house, techno, and love, just as it proves to be year in and year out. From the diverse and talented lineup of artists, to the stunning venue at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and all the vendors and attendees that brought only the best vibes, everything about the festival was perfectly curated to create an immersive and unforgettable experience. Everyone collectively promoting positivity and inclusivity, attendees from all walks of life came together to dance, connect, and celebrate for a truly special weekend in Los Angeles. All in all, Desert Hearts is certainly an event to put your heart out for, and you should absolutely consider being there next time.
Connect with Desert Hearts: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jake West — @jakewestphoto
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jake West — @jakewestphoto
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jess Gallo — @helloatlasmedia
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jess Gallo — @helloatlasmedia
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jess Gallo — @helloatlasmedia
Courtesy of Desert Hearts // Jake West — @jakewestphoto
