Detroit’s Movement Festival is back again this year on Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-29 at the famous Hart Plaza. Movement Detroit is a long-standing and popular house music and techno festival. The festival consists mainly of underground electronic music and some rap-influenced electronic music.
Movement Music Festival History
The festival was first held in 2000 as Detroit Electronic Music Festival and was created to celebrate the the birthplace of Techno. Carl Craig, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May are some of the famous DJs that established the Detroit Techno scene.
The festival changed throughout the early years as different producers and sponsors became involved. Focus Detroit Electronic Music Festival and Fuse-In were a few of the name changes in the early 2000s. Event management company Paxahau, took charge of the Detroit festival in 2006 and continued to produce the show as it is known today.
Detroit Techno
Detroit Techno started in the 1980s and became popular with DJs like Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May at the forefront. The movement gained traction by the success and influence of dance music and raves in Europe. Carl Craig was a big part of the scene in the 1990s as the Detroit Techno scene became more established and known for its industrial sound.
Related: 25 Must Experience Techno Festivals
Detroit Movement Lineup
If this years lineup is anything like the 2022 lineup this will be one festival you shouldn’t miss. Adam Beyer, Carl Craig, Nina Kraviz, and Chris Lake were some of the big DJs who performed at Hart Plaza last year. Flying Lotus and Skrillex were also scheduled to perform, but pulled out for personal reasons.
Movement 2022 Stages
The 2022 Movement event consisted of six stages, each with distinct characteristics.
Movement Stage: the main stage hosting the biggest DJs
Pyramid Stage: the scenic stage set along the riverfront
Waterfront Stage: highlighting sub-genres such as Breakbeats and Ghettotech
Stargate Stage: the “block-party” highlighting Detroit
Underground Stage: a true warehouse rave experience
Detroit Stage: highligting Detroit’s own talent, old an new
Movement Festival Detroit Highlights
Movement Detroit Music
Adam Beyer Live from Movement Detroit Drumcode Radio 305 (2016)
Adam Beyer Live from Movement Detroit Drumcode Radio 358 (2017)
Adam Beyer Live from Movement Detroit Drumcode Radio 620 (2022)
Maceo Plex Live Movement Detroit (2013)
Richie Hawtin Live from Movement Detroit (2010)
Kevin Saunderson b2b Seth Troxler – Movement Detroit (2014)
Carl Craig b2b Seth Troxler – Club FG Special (2022)
Memorial Day Weekend
Although Movement Detroit is not on our Top 5 EDM Festivals list, it’s worth the trip to Motor City this Memorial Day weekend. Especially if you can’t make the big Ultra and EDC events this year.