'Its All About The Music, Its All About The Dancing,' Detroit Movement Festival Fans Say
DETROIT — The energy was high as techno fans flocked to Hart Plaza on Detroit's riverfront for six sets on Sunday, a line-up of artists and bassists powerful enough to rock a music lover.
The three-day festival of electronic movement offers a techno music experience with live performances, lively audiences and river views.
"Let's party and dance," said Detroit resident Dana Nyquist, who was at the festival with friends.
Early risers at the annual electronic music festival heard the opening DJ sets and felt the beats.
"It's about the music, it's about the dance," said Sam Davis, 44, of Wyandotte, who said he's been attending the festival since it started decades ago. "It's about getting together and having fun."
The first Memorial Day weekend electronic music festival was held at Hart Plaza in 2000 and typically drew 35,000 people daily. 23 years later, the Motor City is still winning hearts across the country.
Madison Adams, 37, from Boston, said she only traveled to Detroit for the festival because it was her favorite festival. Adams was hoping to enjoy the second day of the festival on Sunday night with his friends on one of the stages.
“I'm not new to festivals in general, but this one is definitely my favourite. Definitely,” Adams said.
Artists perform on the festival's six stages throughout the day from 2pm to midnight. The roster consisted of Kash Doll, Three 6 Mafia and Skrillex. Other artists include emerging Detroit artists and DJs like Eddie Fowlkes and Stacey "Hotwaxx" Hale.
Nyquist said he has been coming to the festival since 2008.
"I love movement. I love to dance and juggling adds spice to it," she said.
The festival drew thousands to downtown Detroit on the eve of opening day of the three-day event.
"Detroit is the birthplace of techno and this is where you have to feel what the music is about," said Hudson Villeneuve, 25, of Ypsilanti on Saturday. "I love the nature; I love the people, the creativity, the art, it's quite an experience."
For Hudson, the festival's return in 2022 filled a gap the city missed during its hiatus after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said she misses having fun, meeting new people and trying different dishes, but those are just added attractions. Dancing, he says, is still the main activity.
More: Movement Festival set to get Detroit dancing all weekend
“You have to hear live techno; you can't just load it onto the AirPods; you have to experience it and feel it, and Detroit is the best place to do that.”
Lucy Ward, 28, from Chicago returned for the third time with a sound and energy found nowhere else in the world. She said she appreciates how the festival recognizes Black and LGBTQ+ communities as the origins of the genre.
A "Respect the Architects" exhibition by the resident consultant and Detroit Techno Foundation featured DJ and Detroit techno pioneer Delano Smith.
Detroit has a long history of techno and some at the festival saw the genre grow into what it is today.
Christopher Ross, 56, said he's been a fan of techno music since his early days.
"I'm from Detroit and grew up listening to techno and 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 music."
According to the Music Origins Project, the techno genre is part of the electronic dance music genre that began in the 1970s and 1980s when DJs in Detroit experimented with electronic beats. The Movement Festival began much later in 2000 with the Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) founded by Carol Marvin and a group of local DJs. It has been held annually since then and has been produced by Paxahau, a Detroit-based music event management company, since 2006.
According to the project, Detroit DJ Juan Atkins and the Belleville Three coined the terms "techno" and "techno city" on Atkins' album Cybotron (1984). Some of its main characteristics are repetitive rhythms and futuristic or industrial sounds.
Councilman Scott Benson honored Smith with a proclamation Saturday for his contributions to the music scene.
"I think it's a great way to represent our city," Nyquist said. "It's a very nice festival and a pleasure to be in the city."
DJ Ladylike opened his performance on the Detroit stage on Saturday as he headlined the music festival for the first time . He said he's been going to festivals since high school.
"I'm going right now, it's my favorite weekend of the year," Ladylike said. "I feel happy; I love it; I love this city."
Kaegan Kumnick, 25, of Detroit, said he attended the event on a single day last year. Because he hadn't danced enough in one day, he bought a weekend pass this year.
"I have a little drink here and there to relax the joints, but I'm really here to dance - for me it's all about the music," he said.
“With the music you are almost in a trance. With the bass, the hi-hats, you can't help but feel the energy here. With the high profile DJs and headliners, it's worth a try and it's a. Good." Time."
For Boston native Madison Adams (37), who lives in Detroit, the festival is one of the top electronic dance music festivals in America.
"Coming here makes me feel like I'm not going to be disappointed," Adams said. "I always find the music I like, I always find new people to like. And most of all, I think the locals, the people of Detroit, are what I like the most.”
Expect performances from Father Dukes, Ben Scott, Skrillex and more until midnight on Monday. After parties continue throughout Detroit each day and the party will continue through Tuesday morning.
Visit movefestival.com for the full schedule, tickets and all official after-party details.
slewis@detroitnews.com
jaimery@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @wordsbyjakkar
