A Day/Night Out: Boiler Room LA
What began in 2010 as intimate, invite-only livestreams of London’s underground music scene, Boiler Room has grown into a global platform showcasing local talent in music communities around the world. As a teenager, I discovered Kaytranada’s 2013 Boiler Room Montreal set on YouTube. From this moment, attending a Boiler Room show became a bucket-list dream.
Shot on iPhone 14: Entrance of Boiler Room LA
Now in my 30s, I finally made it to my first Boiler Room in Los Angeles. I can honestly say that out of all the shows I’ve ever been to since I was 15, Boiler Room takes the crown. From the venue, to the artists, and the vibe, the experience exceeded my expectations.
The Venue
City Market, located in LA’s Fashion District, was the perfect backdrop for Boiler Room. Surrounded by weathered buildings and graffiti, the setting amplified the event’s underground aesthetic.
Shot on iPhone 14: Building to the right of Stage 2
The layout of the venue was functional: two stages connected by a looping pathway, food trucks and a seating area positioned between them, bars clustered near the main stage with a few more at Stage 2, and plenty of restrooms conveniently placed by the entrance.
Shot on iPhone 14: One of many graffiti art painted along the fences of the pathway
From design to flow, City Market was a smart choice, providing a practical layout to roam while preserving the intimate vibe that Boiler Room is known for.
The Artists
Earlier in the day, I checked out Stage 1, where Benwal played a smooth house set that set the mood for the night ahead. About halfway through, I felt pulled to Stage 2 and ended up staying there the rest of the night. Daphni and Ben UFO b2b Call Super threw down spicy, vibey sets that didn’t allow for a single break because my body just kept moving in sync with the crowd.
Shot on iPhone 14: Daphni
Daphni’s set was a mix of grimey, stank-face-worthy beats and groovy house, while Ben UFO b2b Call Super delivered bangin’, bouncy house-techno that took me back to the late night techno shows at Lot 613.
After years of seeing the same artists, it felt satisfying to experience these new artists live with fresh ears. One of the things I live for is knowing there will always be new artists to discover and new music to love. I have much respect for artists who know how to move a crowd, and that was clear with these three.
Shot on iPhone 14: Ben UFO b2b Call Super
The Vibe
Festivals are known for massive crowds, and one of my biggest gripes is when it gets so packed that you can’t dance or even move around comfortably. That wasn’t the case at Boiler Room. I stayed at Stage 2 (the smaller stage) and somehow it had just the right amount of space to dance and even make it to the front of the stage. The crowd was big, but it never crossed sardine-can territory, which was a relief. I even heard others marveling out how much space there was.
Shot on iPhone 14: Sunset during Daphni’s set
This stage had it all. During Daphni’s set, the sunset hit just right and cool breezes swept through after the heat of the day died down. It was like the music gods smiled down on us. The crowd added to it too—chill energy, heads bopping in sync, and everyone locked into the music. I hadn’t felt that collective vibe in years, and it instantly felt like home.
This was my first Boiler Room and if it’s my last, I’m at peace with that. It was hands down the best show and I’ll cherish the memory for life. Huge thanks and love to Boiler Room and the team for putting together such an unforgettable Sunday session of pure, dope music.
