Love and Beats

love is the message

Love and Beats is a monthly rooftop celebration of music, art, and community at the High 5ive Rooftop Bar in Oakland, California. Launched in September 2024 by DJ Cecil, the party brings together house, amapiano, future beats, and soulful sounds as the sun sets over the East Bay.

Every month, a guest DJ joins Cecil on the rooftop. Past guests have included Karizma, Rich Medina, Jose Marquez, K La-V, Dedan, Marcel Surreal, Charles Hawthorne, DJ Said, Duma, FLORIDAWTR, and many more.

Every party kicks off with Hustle Class with Marquee from 5–6pm — come early and learn to dance before the music takes over.

Love and Beats is more than a party. It’s a space where Oakland’s diversity meets on the dance floor. No pretense, no exclusivity. Just music, community, and love.

About DJ Cecil

Cecil Carthen — who performs as DJ Cecil and records as Cecil — is a DJ, producer, and party founder based in Oakland, CA. With nearly two decades in the Bay Area house music scene, he has co-founded some of the region’s most celebrated parties: Bembe (with Carlos Mena, 2006), thePeople (2007), and SKIN (with Candi Martinez, 2013).

His productions and remixes appear on Ocha Records, United Records, Deepblack, and other labels. His debut EP of original material is forthcoming on his own imprint, Love and Beats Records.

Cecil also co-hosts Space Riderz, a monthly soulful house night at Mad Oak Bar with longtime collaborators Coflo and Cali.

The Venue

Photography

Event photography by @brycentricvisuals

Connect

@loveandbeatsoakland — the party
@djcecil — the DJ
DJ Cecil on SoundCloud