As our second year at Movement Festival Detroit has come and gone, and we’ve fully recuperated from long hours of exerting our body, mind, and soul at all of the stages and countless after parties, we pinch ourselves, not only to make sure we’re still alive, but to make sure the entire experience was real. Movement has left a massive mark this year, keeping us pinching ourselves over and over again.
It’s no secret that Movement is one of the longest running dance music festivals in the States, making Paxahau, the masterful people behind the scenes, true veterans to the art. Hart Plaza, where the festival has been held for 21 years is situated on the Detroit river, giving festival goers not only an inspiring 180 degree view of downtown Detroit, but also a completing 180 degree view of our beautiful Canadian neighbors which sets the backdrop for the Pyramid Stage, appropriately hosting our international artists and friends from not only across the banks, but across the globe.
The surrounding views include sculptures and memorials, such as the the arcs towering 63-ft high next to the Stargate stage, which provides its name. Towering buildings of Detroit’s skyline fence in the plaza, bouncing light and effects, with some like the General Motors headquarters building joining in the fun with changing lights throughout the weekend. If you needed a shaded break from heat (it was a scorcher), Red Bull Live Stage was your green oasis that provided not only trees, but a lush green area to relax supplemented by noteworthy acts. If trees weren’t your thing, the Resident Advisor Underground Stage provided a vampire dwelling with enough bass to crack the foundation.
The 14-acre grounds have held upwards of 100,000+ attendees, and yet no matter how many people there may be, you’ll always feel a sense of inclusion and unity. Even as the popularity of techno has continued to noticably grow, fans know, music here comes first.
And when attending any festival, what comes second? Drinks, food, and unique shops of course! From Detroit Hustles Harder, Well Done Goods, Detroit Techno Militia, and more, attendees could find dope and locally-made threads and accessories, all with their spin on Detroit techno design. Local food and drink vendors held it down as well, including a archway into a craft beer garden to quench your thirst and cool down to take advantage of shade, grass to rest your dancing dogs, with a nice cool breeze from the river. But before you could relax, you couldn’t miss out on Movement’s coveted chicken-on-a-stick from Mercurios Food Specialties.
After getting our fill of merch along with hydrating drinks, with a side of beer, it was time to head into the sweet and dark sound coming from every direction. Saturday’s opening day saw the biggest variety of genres, that included a healthy serving of tech house. One legend that we were not going to miss out on after blowing our socks off the previous year was Stacey Pullen on the Stargate stage for the Detroit Love showcase. Keeping a vibrant and energetic vibe throughout his set, Stacey had the crowd in a non-stop dance marathon with detroit techno classics with a nonstop groovy edge.
If Movement were to do a yearbook, the artist that would show up under “Festival Clown” that is on fire throughout the industry right now would be Fisher, who we couldn’t miss at the Movement main stage. Bringing non-stop energy, infectious smiles, and more dance moves than half the crowd, Fisher held us in the palm of his hand, making us dance happily to everything the pipper played. It was the most packed we saw the main stage that early in the day the entire weekend. Dropping favorite after favorite, Fisher was untouchable for an hour and a half.
One man who needs no introduction is Claude VonStroke. Closing out the main stage on the first day, although CVS may live in San Francisco, he was hugely influenced by growing up in Detroit, where his parents still live and attend his sets there regularly. This year however turned out to be something very special. As he announced recently, his entire set was composed of original tracks and remixes that he spent months working on preparing for a set that was always a dream, that became reality. It was something special that can only be explained by listening, and luckily for us all, the entire live set along with all of the unreleased music will be coming out June 22nd on a special album Claude VonStroke Live From Detroit. Dreams do come true, and fans will now be able to relive it for years to come.
Day two was a scorcher, and a humid one at that, no doubt about it. We have never seen so many fans flapping simultaneously at a festival. But with our camelbaks strapped on, headband in place, beer in the left, fan in the right, nothing was going to stop us from day two’s sets. John Digweed got our day started, with elevated dancing on the pyramid, we waved to our Canadian friends as we were elevated to such heights that even Nova Scotia could be seen.
Taking a break from the sun, Modeselektor was up next at the Red Bull Stage. Teeter-tottering between house/tech house/techno, and beyond, we’re not sure how they made it through the entire set it jump suits, however, you could feel the heat and energy that was emulating from them. Chasing the dragon of energy, Eats Everything was up next, and we once again fell victim to an energy that caused us to take a break from the heat a few times, just to be safe of course. We had to save our energy, because we didn’t write an artist spotlight on Laurent Garnier for nothing. The French wizard and musical-potion maker (no really, look up some videos from the show) hadn’t played State-side in some time, and it wasn’t a set to remember, it was a performance to remember. Playing for almost two hours, we were glued to his dance floor and had no chance of getting off.
The 3rd and final day of any festival is tough. And we won’t lie, the night before we stayed until the sun came up at Seth Troxler’s after party that replaced Old Miami, so our bodies made us sleep in a little more than we wanted to. It wasn’t our fault. Having said that, we still got to see Joseph Capriati bring life to the Movement main stage even under the heat to a crowd that showed no signs of wear-and-tear, just happiness and energy. Once we were recharged, it was time to go visit the woman who brings forth our friends from above, Ellen Allien. It was lights, fog, action as the stage filled to the brim as people tried to push their way into the beyond and stand at the height of the pyramid, ready for the liftoff. To round out the festival, we split out closings between the underground superstar Charlotte de Witte which had the Resident Advisor Underground stage crumbling (literally concrete walls dripping and vibrating) with a volcanic set and finally the man that needs no introduction, Dubfire, with enough fire to make it almost unbearable, if you took into consideration the actual temperature.
Movement isn’t about the outfits, it isn’t about the views, it isn’t even about who you’re with. Its unique no frills focus will never change, creating an atmosphere that Movement has always preached: it’s all about the music.
Co-author: Joshua Schellhammer
Photo Credit: Movement Facebook Page
Connect with Movement Music Festival:
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http://movement.us
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