In the shadow of Indio’s sprawling festival grounds, Framework in the Desert 2025 didn’t just follow the main event—it matched it. For three consecutive nights, a hangar in Thermal, CA transformed into something far bigger than an afterparty. More than 14,000 people passed through the Atlantic Aviation grounds from Friday to Sunday, a new record for the fourth edition of the desert-born series.
The setup felt more immersive than industrial. Central to the weekend was the Long Feng Art Car, a Burning Man relic reborn as the event’s stage. Massive LED scales pulsed across dragon heads. Dancers twisted in sync beside moving metal. It didn’t feel borrowed—it felt like it belonged.
Chris Lake brought firepower Friday night, then doubled down with a surprise b2b alongside Chris Lorenzo. The pair revived their Anti Up project to an unsuspecting crowd, a moment fans will talk about long after the desert dust fades. deadmau5, meanwhile, opened the weekend with his signature wall of sound and sharp visuals, marking a rare and blistering Framework 2025 set.
2025: Celebrity-Soaked Framework
By Saturday, tickets sold out and the scene swelled. The hangar was packed shoulder to shoulder. Tech-house star Mau P headlined to a rapt crowd, delivering one of the weekend’s tightest sets. Backstage, BLACKPINK’s LISA stepped into the spotlight—sort of. She brushed elbows at Wynn Nightlife’s VIP enclave, and word spread quickly.
Other standouts that night included Max Styler and Interplanetary Criminal, who handled earlier slots with finesse and force. The programming felt curated, not crowded—no overlap, no noise bleed, just smart sequencing and deep focus.
Closing Sets and Unlikely Aliases
On Sunday, Alesso switched identities. Ditching the mainstage persona, he appeared under his underground alias BODY HI, delivering a finale of techno-tinged edits and thumping reinterpretations of his catalog. It was a night built for heads, not hits.
Support acts like Francis Mercier, Layton Giordani, and Milhuska each brought distinct energy, proving that Framework’s bookings stretch well beyond headline bait. The lineup’s cohesion spoke louder than any branding ever could.
Broader Beyond the Hangar
Framework’s desert presence wasn’t confined to one venue. At Coachella’s Yuma Tent, their curated lineup featured heavyweights like Amelie Lens, Eli Brown, and Chris Stussy—and it showed. Lines spilled out of the tent nightly. Inside, the vibe was the perfect counterpoint to the sun-drenched main stages.
Offsite, Zenyara’s Desert Nights added another layer. Produced by Framework and Corso Marketing Group, the private estate event leaned into luxury while keeping its lineup tight. AFROJACK’s surprise set, Anyma, and Bob Moses (Club Set), anchored the programming, while guests like Emma Roberts, Zedd, and Winnie Harlow filled the VIP tables.
Framework Doesn’t Rest Between Weekends
While most party crews pack it up after Weekend 1, Framework accelerates. Their 7 Days of Framework series at LA’s Sound Nightclub began that same weekend. Friday brought Alok’s “Something Else” concept, followed by Sparrow & Barbossa on Saturday. Acts like Dixon, Jimi Jules, and AFROJACK presents Kapuchon follow midweek, keeping energy high before the second festival weekend begins.
This wasn’t just a good year for Framework—2025 was a defining one. What began as a well-executed afterparty now feels like its own movement. From Long Feng’s surreal debut to Chris Lake’s surprise b2b, Alesso’s alter ego, and Lisa’s VIP cameo, the weekend proved one thing: Framework doesn’t follow festival culture—it curates it from the inside out.
