Underground DJ Sets Are Popping Up in Iconic LA Spots, Including the Walk of Fame
Framework has also hosted parties in unexpected venues like Atlantic Aviation in Palm Springs and Union Station.
When strolling down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, tourists typically keep their eyes on the ground, searching for the embedded terrazzo and brass stars of icons like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and more. But for one night last fall, 12,000 people flooded the landmark to party to house music from producers Chris Lake and Fisher at a show hosted by Framework, a group of electronic music event producers in Los Angeles. It was the biggest dance party ever held on Hollywood Boulevard.
Founded by Kobi Danan and Erik Litmanovich in 2013, Framework has been a trailblazer in LA’s underground music scene, utilizing unexpected and often historic spots in the city to create unforgettable sonic experiences. The group also owns and operates multiple brick-and-mortar venues in LA, including the popular nightclub, Sound, and the recently opened Hollywood hotspot, The Spotlight. Danan, who has been promoting dance music events since his teenage years growing up in Israel, is determined to continue embracing Framework’s cutting-edge style.
“There’s just so much of the same thing all over the world,” Danan says. “We have to think outside the box.”
Hollywood Boulevard is just one of numerous unique venues in the LA area that Framework has used. They’ve taken over the usually bustling main room of Union Station, hosted parties under the red lamps at Gin Ling Way in Chinatown, and nestled themselves amongst Downtown LA’s skyscrapers at Pershing Square.
On Saturday, June 15, the group will shut down Las Palmas Avenue in front of Sound nightclub to throw a six-hour set with DJ AC Slater’s record label, Night Bass, a pillar of LA’s music scene. The following month, Framework will host an all-night party with DJ Duke Dumont at the more than 100-year-old Red Studios Hollywood, a movie studio that produced films like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Crash, and When Harry Met Sally.
“We try to find these cool and edgy venues, even though it’s so challenging to do, just to elevate the experience for our community,” Danan says. “People will remember the Hollywood Boulevard show for life, because these aren’t things that happen often.”
Still, working with city officials has proved to be a significant challenge for Danan. While some of the non-traditional venues are privately owned, Hollywood Boulevard and Union Station are city property; that means Danan has to acquire various permits from different city departments in order to put on Framework’s events. After more than a decade of putting on successful events, however, the process has started to get smoother.
“It took many years to build these relationships to let them feel comfortable, but we managed to get the confidence of the city. If it’s from the [Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety], LAPD, LAFD, they know that our number one priority is safety,” Danan says.
After so many successful events in various locations, part of the fun for Danan is seeing doubtful officials recognize that what he does is safe for attendees and good for the city's artistic culture. Following the success of the Hollywood Boulevard show, the city implored Danan to host quarterly events there, but he insisted on keeping it annual to ensure the event and the space remains a novelty to the attendees.
“99% of the time that we do one of these unique things, the person that was skeptical about it and wasn’t really supportive is the one who calls you afterward to say, ‘So when is the next one?’” Danan says.
While Hollywood Boulevard is already an impressive feat, Danan has even loftier goals. He is currently trying to book Griffith Observatory for a show while his team scouts the world to expand Framework beyond Southern California. He operates under the mantra that if the space is safe, large enough, and offers something new for the fans, he’s open to it. However, hosting events in LA will always be his priority.
“LA is probably the most unique city in the US to do stuff like this; forty five minutes in each direction, you can be in the desert, the snow, the beach, or a forest,” Danan says. “I believe in the years to come, we will unveil even more new venues and cool activations so the city will get better at understanding what we do.”