While many Americans celebrated their Memorial Day holiday weekend with friends and family at barbeques, beaches, pools and other expected venues, over 100,000 music fans poured into Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan for a different annual holiday tradition. Movement Electronic Music Festival once again proved itself worthy of the Detroit electronic music legacy, drawing legions of faithful fans from all corners of the globe for another world-class event. From start to finish, this year’s festival was a marathon, and fans hit the starting line running as they lined up before noon on Saturday for the first acts of the day.
Day one started off on a positive note with spectacular weather, marking the beginning of a good trend that lasted the entire weekend. As the crowd filed into downtown Detroit’s jewel, Hart Plaza, they were treated right from starting gun to a stunning set from Asher Perkins. While the Motown resident didn’t bust into any accordion jams (one of his many skills), he warmed up the masses with some hard techno and showcased some fine dance moves. The 2014 Made in Detroit stage was louder, larger and featured expanded lighting, making it a standout location for the duration of Movement. Later on Saturday, the Made in Detroit stage exploded into the night with superior sets from Queen Beats aka DJ Minx and Detroit legend Stacey Pullen, who had plenty left in the tank when Day One concluded just prior to midnight.
Those seeking an even larger crowd experience on Day One could stroll over to the adjacent Red Bull Music Academy main stage for top U.S. and international acts like Washington D.C.’s Benoit & Sergio, Brooklyn’s Metro Area, Berlin’s Tale of Us and Detroit’s Underground Resistance. Meanwhile at the Beatport Stage, Dirtybird Records artists Justin Martin and Claude Vonstroke performed to a sprawling crowd that packed every available bit of space, including the concrete “pyramid” sets of steps looming over the floor. Martin’s set was an instant classic and he even took time to pose for an epic selfie with the ecstatic crowd. Martin then handed the baton to London’s Simian Mobile Disco, who dove straight into a powerful DJ set, before Damian Lazarus, Chicago’s Green Velvet and the Dirtybird chief himself, Vonstroke, sent the faithful fans home with all smiles.
Movement Day Two had a tough act to follow, especially in the wake of all the various after parties throughout the city Saturday night, some of which went as late as 6 or 7 am. But those who arrived early to the gates on Sunday sprinted ahead to catch early sets from Adriatique at the Beatport Stage, Jimmy Edgar at the Red Bull Stage and techno pioneer Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale at the Made in Detroit Stage.
As the afternoon progressed, the temperature rose into the 80’s, sending fans in search of shade to the tree-lined areas flanking the Moog Stage. Sporting a “Don’t Mess With Texas” t-shirt, perhaps in jest after the Rangers took the weekend series from the Tigers, Germany’s Move D dug through his record crates to provide the best sounds possible for the heated dancers. This newly named stage for 2014 kept the beats coming with excellent sets by way of the United Kingdom from the Northern Ireland duo Bicep, and Bristol, England’s Julio Bashmore (sporting a Detroit Tigers warm-up shirt). Closing out the day to the packed-solid, younger crowds at Moog were Kode9 and Baauer; marking the Moog Stage as a major talent hub at Movement going forward.
Fresh off a series of dates on the Apex North American tour, Dixon and Maceo Plex teamed up for back-to-back sets over the course of three hours at the Beatport Stage. Dixon is currently receiving a great deal of attention in the electronic music community and the Berlin, Germany based owner of Innervisions Recordings did not disappoint. Loud cheers rang out at times as he raced through his catalog, before darkness consumed the riverside stage. Although he was hard pressed to top his epic 2013 Movement rain-soaked session when he played under the moniker Maetrik, Maceo Plex delivered a wickedly dark set on a perfectly clear evening this time around. Elsewhere on Day Two, Detroit’s Techno and House mayor at-large, Seth Troxler, spun an impressive afternoon set at the Red Bull Academy Stage. He then handed the keys over to Marco Carola, who was followed by the legendary John Digweed, before local Motor City hero Richie Hawtin closed out the evening.
After the prior two days set the pace, it was time for the final leg and the Memorial Day Holiday celebration at Day Three of Movement. For those who couldn’t get enough entertainment at Sunday evening’s various after parties, a popular indoor/outdoor party on Monday morning drew hundreds of eager fans who lined up as early as 7am to see performances from DJ Tennis, Three, The Martinez Brothers and Dixon. Whether they were running on little or no sleep, the largest crowd of the weekend appeared at Movement Day Three and was treated to a hot one, with temperatures reaching nearly 90 degrees. Monday was a star-studded affair, featuring top names like Carl Cox, Pete Tong, Loco Dice, Carl Craig, Lee Foss, Octave One, Skream and much more. The Underground Stage drew plenty of fans seeking shade, so those who hadn’t already ventured down below had an opportunity to catch Adam X live, followed by a three hour spaceship ride closing performance by a true member of Detroit royalty, Jeff Mills.
Over at the Made in Detroit Stage, fans were treated to a very special lineup takeover as Kevin Saunderson presented “Origins,” a showcase including his son, Danitez Saunderson, Niko Marks, Eddie Fowlkes and a back-to-back set with Saunderson himself next to Seth Troxler. A massive crowd gathered between the “Transcending” landmark monument ring and grassy knoll for a techno, house and dance history lesson, capped off by a stunning Octave One live set to close out the weekend. Once again, Movement and its faithful demonstrated the stamina required to finish atop the powerhouse of festivals across the world.