Desert Air's Debut Takes Flight

One week ago today we were preparing to take flight at Splash House and Goldenvoice's first ever Desert Air fest. The event made its debut at the Palms Springs Air Museum, a venue that lent itself perfectly to the aviation-themed event. From the moment you entered, to the time you left, Desert Air did a wonderful job of holding the attention of its attendees. 

The weekend took off on Friday with a stacked lineup of world-class talent. Gracing the stage was Chloé Caillet, Patrick Holland, Chris Stussy, Jayda G, Dixon, and The Martinez Brothers. All night, the stage was lined up with a spirited crowd of groovers from around the world, lifting their hands and shouting out, as the carefully selected tastemakers played out their sets. Behind the booth the desert mountains shimmered on the horizon and perfectly accompanied the presence of the B-17 Memphis Belle, the plane selected by Desert Air to grace the stage as decor.

Credit: Desert Air

 If at any time you needed a break from all the dancing, there were plenty of options off the dance floor too. Desert Air came prepared with food vendors (vegan options included), plenty of bars -- located inside of real airplane hangars, and photo ops for attendees to enjoy with their friends.

Credit: Natt Lim for Desert Air 

Fast forward to day 2 of Desert Air, where they not only brought the nighttime vibes, but also gave attendees the chance to enjoy the Palm Springs sun. Before getting to the dance floor, guests had the opportunity to enjoy Daytime Affairs, a curated list of pre-show experiences. Whether it was doing rooftop yoga, taking a ride in a warbird plane, or wine tasting and oysters, these extra activities elevated this festival to a full-on vacation experience. 

 Credit: Desert Air 

There was a buzz in the air as the gates opened and the music began on Day 2. After a full day of activities, there was no better way to spend the night than dancing to Desert Air's sound-selectors. The night started off with Mason Collective, followed by Perel, Tsha, a live performance from Channel Tres, then into Moodymann, DJ Koze, and finally finished off with South Korea’s music-fashion globetrotter Peggy Gou. The star-studded night held that incredible energy that can only be felt when you're dancing alongside friends in the desert. 

Desert Air was truly a treat for those who had the opportunity to attend its first edition. From the airplane-lined grounds, to the bars located inside of actual hangars, this December festival brought a unique and exciting presence to Palm Springs that was unlike anything else. If you missed this year's Desert Air, keep your eyes open for the next one because it's a festival you don't want to miss.

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