Desert Hearts have announced the return of their City Hearts Festival concept to Downtown Los Angeles, where they’ll conjure the magic of their flagship desert festival within the urban locale over two days, November 9-10. The event will take over the iconic grounds of Father Serra Park—one of Downtown’s oldest and lushest parks, just steps away from Union Station.
City Hearts debuted in 2017, where the day-into-night affair transformed LA into a pocket of House, Techno, and Love filled with colorful people, performers, live art installations, and Desert Hearts’ signature festival production. The tradition continues in 2019, but will be expanded over two-days, with each packing in a robust slate of musical programming.
The Desert Hearts Crew of Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, Marbs, and Porky welcome a wide range of world-class selectors and extended family to join them for the weekend. The lineup is topped by Turbo boss TIGA, UK stalwarts Patrick Topping and wAFF, and Hot Creations’ Nathan Barato. Top tier billing continues with Kate Simko, Andreas Henneberg, LA legend Doc Martin, and venerable Desert Hearts Records family members and Percomaniacs bosses Lubelski and Rybo.
Following the echoing launch of Desert Hearts Black this month, the brand will be on full display at City Hearts Festival LA. The fledgling subsidiary dedicated toward the darker, driving moments of the festival saw its inaugural EP Torus reach the #1 spot on Beatport Releases. Desert Hearts Black leaders Marbs and Evan Casey will be joined their Torus collaborator and mau5trap star Rinzen, as well as Life and Death co-founder Thugfucker. Those who attended the Desert Hearts Black launch party deep in the Los Angeles underground earlier this month will know these are artists not to miss.
Father Serra Park makes an ideal venue for City Hearts’ milestone return to Los Angeles. It sits within the earliest boundaries of the city, dating back to the Spanish colonial era of 1815. The Park marks the first place where settlers of the area touched down in the late 1700s and served as Los Angeles’ center and commercial hub for over a century. Today, it houses the city’s long standing historical pillars including Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Ángeles Church Avila Adobe, Pico House, and the Old Plaza Fire Station.
In true Desert Hearts form, it will remain the oddities and colorful amenities that make City Hearts Festival a truly immersive experience. Fans may find themselves lounging in the cushion-filled Pile Palace fresh from Burning Man, exploring art-installations, or watching live-painting as the sun sets over the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. The event will also offer a wide array of food vendors to keep partiers fueled for the marathon affair.
Desert Hearts has travelled around the globe in 2019, spreading their iconic movement to far-away places and growing their following in the process. Now, it’s time to return to their home turf of Southern California to celebrate yet another bountiful year for their dedicated community of doers and creators. As the family grows, one fact remains: We Are All Desert Hearts.