Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE) Announces New Knitting Factory Music Venue,
Upstairs at The Federal Bar in North Hollywood: Knitting Factory NoHo
Chris Diaz, Former KFE Talent Buyer, Returns as Consultant for New Venue
Credit Morgan Margolis
For the first time in thirteen years, Los Angeles will have a new Knitting Factory-branded live music venue: Knitting Factory NoHo,
on the second floor of the historic Federal Bar in North Hollywood.
The time is right for a space like this, as Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE) CEO Morgan Margolis focuses on returning KFE to its roots in live performance.
The launch of Knitting Factory NoHo comes on the heels of the Knitting Factory Brooklyn closure and the
announcement of a new Knitting Factory venue opening in New York’s East Village neighborhood in early 2023.
View of the house to the stage
Credit Charles Volkens
Since Knitting Factory Hollywood closed in 2009, Margolis has developed a hospitality division of KFE—in Los Angeles alone; this includes
The Federal Bar, El Tejano, Thirsty Merchant, Cantiki Bar, and Boomtown Brewery partnerships, plus the iconic Desert Daze festival,
with partner Phil Pirrone. Although a long-continued alliance with Spaceland Presents CEO Mitchell Frank on The Regent Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles,
Margolis decided it was time to find a location for Knitting Factory to return its specific brand to Los Angeles.
“While this is a more intimate venue then our partner venue, Regent Theatre (1000 cap), our team plans to bring incredible live experiences for
musicians, comedians, artists, and fans alike, as our company has been doing for decades,” says Margolis. “In North Hollywood specifically, we’ve
been in the area since The Federal Bar opened with a private performance from jazz legend Stanley Clarke in January 2011, and there is an appetite
for more music-based programming as the neighborhood continues to grow into a distinct residential and entertainment district.”
The building that houses The Federal Bar and Knitting Factory NoHo is historic. Founded in 1926 and formerly operating as a bank, it has great architectural features like brick,
high-beamed ceilings, and (near-)floor-to-ceiling windows. Knitting Factory NoHo is taking over a 300-plus-capacity room that, unlike most other music venues
in Los Angeles, offers a patio and expansive local views from those aforementioned windows plus onsite parking.
Credit Charles Volkens
The space previously held private events and live shows, including Gary Calamar’s Mimosa Music Series, which ran from 2013 to 2020, and saw artists
like John Doe, Kurt Vile, Big Thief, Ducktails, Cayucas, Sea Wolf, Chuck Prophet, Jenny O., Motopony, and many more. Existing facilities
are currently undergoing a major renovation, including a raised and widened stage, improved sightlines, and massively upgraded audio-visual production.
Bands and audiences alike will appreciate Knitting Factory NoHo’s beefed-up sound and lighting system, which includes a
Midas M32R digital console; a powerful and accurate speaker array from Meyer Sound, Turbosound, and Electro-voice; a two-dozen unit
Chauvet lighting array; and a Chamsys controller powered by Chamsys MagicQ software. The new venue also hides a classic speakeasy,
which will operate as a private VIP bar and green room. Finally, there will be new signage and a box office.
The Back Bar
Downstairs, count on The Federal Bar to continue serving classic yet contemporary, gastropub-inspired food and drink,
with a recently redesigned menu and cocktail program that includes new dishes, past favorites, and greatly expanded vegan offerings.
Live music guests can order from the downstairs menu.
Veteran music curator Chris Diaz,
In a homecoming of sorts, serving as Knitting Factory NoHo’s consultant talent booker will be veteran music curator Chris Diaz,
who got his start as a sound engineer and local booker at Knitting Factory Hollywood around the same time Margolis was working his way up
the company ladder. Diaz is known for developing musical artists and comics in New York and Los Angeles, spotting emerging talent
and booking some of the earliest gigs for Silversun Pickups, Charli XCX, Tycho, Jonas Brothers, Hannibal Buress, and Joey Bada$$,
to name a few. Diaz has also developed and programmed a number of festivals and events.
At KFE, Diaz went from sound tech to local booker, to Senior Talent Buyer, moving to New York after Knitting Factory Hollywood closed to program
the newly opened Knitting Factory Brooklyn. He returned to Los Angeles in 2013, to book two iconic venues for Goldenvoice, The Roxy Theatre
on the Sunset Strip—which was named “Best Revitalized Music Venue” by LA Weekly in 2014, crediting Diaz’s programming for its success—
and The Glass House Concert Hall in Pomona, before booking for Spaceland Presents at The Regent Theatre.
Credit Morgan Margolis
After years of hoping to have Diaz rejoin into the company, Margolis approached him with the idea of rebranding The Federal Bar’s event space into
Knitting Factory NoHo and utilizing his talents for its programming.
“Working with Knitting Factory Entertainment again, and specifically with Morgan, is like being reunited with a long-lost family member,” says Diaz.
“It is very exciting to be a part of bringing this legendary brand back to Los Angeles, to help ensure its future legacy.”
Programming is set to begin before the end of 2022.
For booking opportunities, please contact Chris Diaz at cdiaz@knittingfactory.com. Photos here.
About Knitting Factory Entertainment
Founded in 1987, with its first venue opening in New York City, Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE) is a creative producer,
manager and distributor of universal music content, film/TV, and theatrical events. Today, KFE comprises: The Federal Bar; El Tejano;
Thirsty Merchant; and Cantiki Bar in Los Angeles in partnership with Buckhead Hospitality, as well as numerous venue and restaurant
units in Denver with Fillmore Capital Partners; multiple Knitting Factory concert venues; and partnerships with Boomtown Brewery,
The Regent Theatre, and Arrive Hotel Palm Springs.
KFE has ownership with Brooklyn-based indie label Partisan Records, Knitting Factory Management, Left Music Publishing,
Selby Artist Management, Giant Step Marketing and Media, TBA Agency, Fandiem digital platform, and culinary marketing agency
Sweet Management/Connect Group. KFE owns the tastemaker web and podcast property, The Talkhouse.
KFE’s national touring and promotions arm Knitting Factory Presents (Bravo Entertainment) has expanded its footprint,
booking national acts across multiple states including, but not limited to: Outlaw Field in Boise, ID and Big Sky Brewery Amphitheater in Missoula, MT,
serving thousands of fans outdoors annually.
Knitting Factory Presents also services Alma Mater/Fawcett Hall in Tacoma, WA; Slowdown in Omaha, NE; Elevation 27 in Virginia Beach, VA;
and Hop Springs in Murfreesboro, TN as a talent buyer. Other partnerships have included: Pappy and Harriet’s in Joshua Tree, CA;
Rachel Ray’s Feedback in Chicago, IL; Horton’s Hayride in San Pedro, CA; Maha Festival in Omaha, NE;
Desert Daze in Moreno Valley, CA; Wine Country Amphitheater in Walla Walla, WA; CMoore Concerts in the Pacific Northwest; and many others
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
If you have a question, you can email me at stevie.wilson@LA-Story.com
________________________DEALS and STEALS( Affiliate Links)
I curate deals that offer bonuses, bargains, and great products –and some are specifically for this site to feature to my audience because I want my audience to get amazing products from great brands!
Disclosure: some of the links on this post might have affiliate links! It costs you nothing. If you buy something, the brand pays me a small percentage.
Sunscreens Are Essential in Summer! Try Hampton Sun Products!!
Hampton Sun has an amazing array of products that include sunscreens that are from SPF 4- 70. Some of the latest additions to the
Hampton Sun family are mineral-based sunscreens. These sunscreens include the Age-Defying SPF 50 Mineral Crème as well as the
newest product, Mineral Anti-Aging SPF 30 Lotion. These products are perfect for everyday use because they cover a lot of bases!
Key Benefits:
The best part about mineral sunscreens is that they don’t leave a chalky residue or a white cast on your skin. They vanish into your skin
without being gooey or greasy!
–SPF 30 Mineral: 100% Vegan Moisturizing Mineral-Based Formula, Coral Reef-Safe, Chemical-Free, No White Residue, Broad
Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection, Water-Resistant (80 minutes), Preservative-Free & Fragrance-Free, Non-Nano
–SPF 50 Mineral: 100% Mineral Formula, Chemical-free, Coral Reef -Safe & Biodegradable, Broad-Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection,
Water -Resistant (80 minutes), Sheer & Lightweight, Preservative-Free, Gluten-Free, Paba-Free
–Sunless Tanning Mist! For those who want to have a beautiful tan but don’t want to be subjected to UVA/UVB rays, there is another
option for you from Hampton Sun: SUNLESS Tanning Mist!
–This crystal clear, ultra-fine mist goes on evenly, and works at any angle.
No-rub application is for the face & body and dries in a flash! All organic Erythrulose, a naturally occurring sugar in red raspberries, ensures
a longer-lasting non-streaking tan.
–Infused with our signature Privet Bloom scent. We recommend you layer it with several applications.
–The most flawless color – We call it magic in a bottle!
–Featured Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, Erythrulose, Sodium PCA So you can have your “cake and eat it too” by using the
Hampton Sun SUNLESS Tanning Mist and the Mineral SunscreenSPF 50 or 30 over the beautiful golden tan!! What’s not to love?
You can find Hampton Sun Products at these online and brick-and-mortar stores:
Hampton Sun: https://hamptonsuncare.com/
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Luxury-Beauty-Hampton-Sun/b?node=8757878011
Beautylish: https://www.beautylish.com/b/hampton-sunHSN:
Net-a-Porter: https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-us/shop/designer/hampton-sun
HSN: https://www.hsn.com/shop/hampton-sun/1230
Neiman Marcus.com + Neiman Marcus Stores:
https://www.neimanmarcus.com/c/designers-hampton-sun-cat48080738
About LA-Story.com
If you are going to feature content from LA-Story.com including images, podcasts, or videos including the accompanying text, please respect copyright provisions. We require a notation of content origination (meaning credit tag), a link- back to the specific page & please email the link to stevie.wilson@la-story.com before the piece goes live.
Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: http://feeds.feedburner.com/la-story/Bpyd Powered by FeedBurner
If you are going to feature content from LA-Story.com including images, podcasts, or videos including the accompanying text,
please respect copyright provisions. We require a notation of content origination (meaning credit tag), a link- back to the specific page &
please email the link to stevie.wilson@la-story.com before the piece goes live.
LA-Story.com, LA-Story Recessionista, Celebrity Stylescope, Celebrity Style Slam Trademark 2020-2025
>
