'It’s all about the music, it’s all about the dancing,' Detroit Movement festival fans say
Detroit — The energy was lively as techno fans flocked to Hart Plaza on the Detroit riverfront on Sunday for six stages, a lineup of performers and bass loud enough to shake a music lover to the core.
The three-day electronic Movement Festival features a techno music experience with live performances, the pulsing of the crowd and a view of the river.
“Let’s party and let’s dance,” said Dana Nyquist of Detroit, who was with friends at the festival.
Crowds that arrived early at the annual electronic music festival listened to the opening DJ sets, feeling the rhythms.
“It’s all about the music, it’s all about the dancing," said Sam Davis, 44, of Wyandotte, who said he’s been going to the festival since it began decades ago. "It’s all about coming together and just having a good time."
The first Memorial Day weekend electronic music festival, which has typically drawn daily crowds up to 35,000, was held in Hart Plaza in 2000. Twenty-three years later, it continues to usher in people looking for heart-thumping beats to the Motor City from around the country.
Madison Adams, 37, of Boston said she traveled to Detroit just for the festival because it’s her favorite she's ever been to. Adams spent Sunday afternoon hoola-hooping with her friends at one of the stages to enjoy the second day of the festival.
“I’m not a newcomer to festivals in general, but this is my favorite one by far. Hands down,” Adams said.
The festival's six stages rotate performers throughout the day from 2 p.m. to midnight. The lineup included Kash Doll, Three 6 Mafia and Skrillex. Other performances include emerging artists and Detroit DJ’s such as Eddie Fowlkes and Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale.
Nyquist said she has been coming to the festival since 2008. Nyquist juggled pins to the rhythm of the music.
“I love Movement. I love dancing, and then juggling adds a little spice,” she said.
The festival attracted thousands to downtown Detroit the day before on the opening day of the three-day event.
"Detroit is the birthplace of techno and you've got to feel the music here to experience what it's about," said Hudson Villeneuve, 25, of Ypsilanti on Saturday. "I love the outdoors; I love the people, the creativity, the art — it's a whole experience."
To Hudson, the festival, which returned in 2022 after two years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filled a gap the city was missing during its hiatus. He said he missed having fun, meeting new people and trying different foods — but those were only bonus attractions; dancing, he said, is always the main mission.
More:Movement Festival to have Detroit dancing all weekend long
"You have to hear techno live; you can't just put it on your Airpods; you have to experience it and feel it, and Detroit is the best place for that."
Lucy Ward, 28, of Chicago returned for her third year for the sound and energy, she said, that can't be found in other places around the world. She said she appreciates the way the fest recognizes Black and LGBTQ+ communities as originators of the genre.
An exhibition, “Respect the Architects,” by resident advisor and the Detroit Techno Foundation featured DJ Delano Smith and other pioneers of Detroit techno.
There’s techno history in Detroit, and some festival goers have witnessed the genre become what it is today.
Christopher Ross, 56, said he’s been a fan of techno music since it began.
“I’m from Detroit, so I grew up with techno, house music. I was there from the very beginning when it all started. It started with Mojo and The Wizard,” he said. “I fell in love with the music.”
The techno genre is part of the electronic dance music genre, which began in the 1970s and 80s with disc jockeys experimenting with electronic rhythm in Detroit, according to the Music Origins Project. The Movement festival began long after in 2000 as the Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF), founded by Carol Marvin and a group of local DJs. It has since been held annually and has been produced by Paxahau, a Detroit-based music events management company, since 2006.
Detroit DJ Juan Atkins and the Belleville Three were the first to coin the term “techno” and the term “Techno City” on Atkin’s Cybotron (1984) record, according to the project. Some of its main features are a repetitive beat and futuristic or industrial sounds.
On Saturday, Councilman Scott Benson honored Smith with a proclamation for his contributions to the music scene.
“I think it’s an awesome way to (represent) our city," Nyquist said. "It’s a really cool festival and it’s fun that it’s right here in the city."
DJ Ladylike opened her set on the Detroit Stage in her first time headlining the music festival on Sunday. She said she's been attending the festival since high school.
"I am honored to set this off; its my favorite weekend of the year," Ladylike said. "I feel ecstatic; I love this; I love this city."
Kaegan Kumnick, 25, of Detroit said he only attended one day during last year's event. Dancing for one day wasn't enough, so he bought a pass for the weekend this year.
"I'm drinking a little bit here and there to get the joints loose, but I really came to dance; it's all about the music for me," he said.
"With the music, you're almost in a trance. With the bass, with the high-hats — you can't help but feel the energy here. With the high-quality DJs and headliners, its worth it, and its a great time."
The festival is one of America’s best electronic dance music festivals for Madison Adams, 37, of Boston because it’s in Detroit.
“It just feels like whenever I come here, I’m never disappointed," Adams said. "I always find music that I like, I always find new people that I like. And I find most often that the locals, the people who are from Detroit, are the ones that I enjoy the most."
On Monday, performances from Father Dukes, Ben Scott, Skrillex and more are expected until midnight. Afterparties will continue throughout Detroit each day and the party will continue into Tuesday morning.
For the full line up, ticketing and all the official after party details, visit movementfestival.com.
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