It isn’t unusual for deep house lovers and dance-minded partygoers to have more than a few choices of event destinations during any given weekend in Los Angeles. The LA music scene has a range of flavors that cater to all manner of taste, from old school disco and funk-based house to cutting-edge techno and the rapidly growing influence of desert-rooted, tech-house sounds. Although the warehouse scene—which in Los Angeles has for years been a long standing purveyor of dance music—slowed a bit in the last year due to recent police efforts, the need for alternative sounds away from the hubbub and perceived glitz of Hollywood remains.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the US you have a brand like Cityfox that has been successfully curating large events in Brookyln for some time, and its reputation is established on incredible production, world class talent, and an experience that has brought fans back despite higher ticket prices. Unusual as it is for a New York outfit to export a party to Los Angeles, execution becomes paramount, and these guys spared no expense.

Visually, projection mappings were created by the NY Projektil collective specifically for the outdoor space, playing off the graffiti that was already present and making it appear as if the entire area was decorated with urban art. Halfway through the night, the graffiti mysteriously rippled and began shifting, before dissolving into more visual madness that continued throughout the rest of the performance. This visual environment set a standard, one rarely met in underground parties.

Another important detail was the sound. Cityfox brought its own KV2 Audio system, which was trucked in from New York. There’s not much more to say about that. Rarely do organizers engage in transporting their own gear such distances, which clearly speaks to the quality of the array and the belief Cityfox has in it.

Most importantly, the crowning achievement of the entire event was the lineup of talent. Droog, the artists behind Culprit LA and long standing Los Angeles torch bearers of quality house, brought beautiful daytime vibes and set the tone for the entire event. LA legend Doc Martin moved his audience with hypnotic rhythms that overlapped both house and techno, pushing his signature sound through the KV2 system. Bedouin, a duo from New York whose productions channel minimal and darker, deep-tech flavors, eased the crowd into the evening hours, while Dixon put on his usual DJ journey masterclass. Weaving a thread that took dancers from pop and African percussion-based rhythms to deeper sounds and soulful modular sounding Detroit techno, house, and beyond, Dixon showed his class, eventually ending with notes of indie guitar and melody based moments—leaving you always wanting more. At 10PM, everyone moved into a massive indoor warehouse space decorated with suspended white fabric, against which the lasers and disco ball reflected, creating another fantastical visual environment. Atish took over, immediately raising the energy level with progressive sounds, re-energizing the audience before settling into the lush and uplifting sound for which he is most known. Adriatique, Culprit alums and princes of the dark, finished off the sweaty night in style, picking up where Atish left off with the duo’s brand of bouncy, dark, deep house. Throughout the night, the entire effort was anchored by a cast of superb local movers and shakers including Tara Brooks, Anton Tumas, MD, Dadon, Jimbo James, Mikey Lion, and Deep Jesus.

It was an impressive first outing in Los Angeles for Cityfox. Despite high ticket prices that would normally be a deterrent in this scene, the first LA party was incredibly well attended. Seems their reputation not only precedes them—but is indeed well earned.