Movement Festival 2014

What an amazing festival experience this was, my first electronic music festival.  So thankful to some old and new friends for sharing this with… A great space, great music, and lots interesting and extremely nice people. 3 days of non-stop dancing. Great food too!  Check out some shots and a compilation video.

 

Check out some other thoughts on the first couple days of the fest.

http://www.dancingastronaut.com/2014/05/movement-detroit-day-1/ 

http://www.dancingastronaut.com/2014/05/movement-detroit-day-2-highlights/

Next year’s dates have already been announced.  They’re on my calendar!

"In the blink of an eye, Movement Detroit has already penciled in May 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2015 for next year’s festival dates. The annual event will return to Hart Plaza – Detroit’s renowned waterfront destination - during its traditional Memorial Day Weekend slot."

(Via. Movement Detroit announces 2015 dates - Dancing Astronaut)

Movement 2017

Another year, another Movement electronic music festival.   

"DETROIT — If the giant commercial music festival seems to be a model of the recent past and the small, carefully framed festival seems one of the evolving future, Detroit experienced both past and future last weekend.

The Movement Electronic Music Festival had its tenth annual edition here on Memorial Day weekend, attracting a total of more than 100,000 people from Saturday to Monday to Hart Plaza downtown and to after-parties until daybreak around the city. "

(Via Made in Detroit, Differing Music Models - The New York Times.)

Great as always!! Let’s watch the tape!

Movement 2019

Another year, another great Movement experience.  It’s practically routine at this point, though this time we stayed further inland Detroit at the Westin.  Very nice hotel and a pleasant walk - that is except when a really strong storm blows in and the festival shoos you out into the streets to fend for yourself.  Luckily we ignored their advice and took refuge down into underground stage where the crowds are always joyous during inclement weather.

Highlights for me this round were Disclosure, Golf Clap, Floorplan, Madlib, and of course Carl Craig.  There were also a host of nameless/faceless DJs that I totally got down to as well.  After parties were also amazing, and once again a consideration for going to Detroit that weekend for a completely flipped schedule.

More Photos Here.

Movement 2018

Another great year at Movement!  Such a fun festival of music and people - and dancing!  I was a little restricted from dancing this year which was a little tragic, but I was still able to have a fun time!  Here are some selected pics below, but you can find the full set here.

And video of course: 

Movement 2016

Another phenomenal year...

Here is the official Recap Video:

Movement 2022

First Movement back from the pandemic.  SO GOOD TO BE BACK.

Movement 2015

My second year of attending Movement, formerly known as the Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF!).  Again, a fabulous year - but this time with the perks of VIP!  Totally worth it - and will do it again next year…   Here are some highlights.

Article: Why Disco Is Taking Over Pop, One Feel-Good Banger At A Time

I couldn’t be happier about it...

"Disco originated in the 1970s at a time of economic crisis. The post-World War II economic boom had come to an end and the United States began to endure a cycle of depression that included an oil crisis, a stock market crash, and a recession that caused high unemployment and simultaneously high inflation. At the end of the previous decade, the Civil Rights movement was disrupted by the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Deputy Chairman of Black Panther Party Fred Hampton. Mass shootings and labor strikes abounded. With uncomplicated messages of feeling good (i.e., ‘Good Times’ by Chic, ‘You Should Be Dancing’ by the Bee Gees) and empowerment, like Gloria Gaynor’s perennial ‘I Will Survive,’ hefty funk basslines, eclectic percussion via cowbell and woodblock, and four-on-the-floor rhythms, disco was the music of liberation when marginalized, working people — in particular for queer, Black, Hispanic and Latinx, and Italian-American people — needed it badly.

It’s hard not to see parallels between the disco era and the political and cultural shifts happening right now in America. A public health crisis and subsequent recession — one started just barely 10 years after the last — plus a reinvigorated movement for racial justice, fueled by demands of significant societal restructuring in the real service of long overdue equality, make for a heavy load to bear, especially if you’re unemployed or otherwise struggling.

‘When shit’s going bad, people like to indulge in happier music,’ says Ian Kirkpatrick, the producer of ‘Don’t Start Now,’ and Lipa’s 2018 hit ‘New Rules.’ ‘These songs are so uplifting. This is a way of escaping.’"

(Via Why Disco Is Taking Over Pop, One Feel-Good Banger At A Time.)

Movement / Detroit Electronic Music Festival!

This Weekend!!!!!!! 

Pantha Du Prince (5/21/17)

Movement is coming this weekend and Pathan Du Prince was billed as a festival Pre-Party!  Granted, it was a week before the actual festival, but this show was totally worth driving to Detroit twice within a week.  His electronic music had everyone at the Marble Bar up and dancing!  I couldn’t imagine a better pre-party than this.

Summer Solstice Party (6/30/12)

After the Waterloo Arts Festival, we got cleaned up from the heat and headed over to the Cleveland Museum of Art for the 10pm entrance of their Summer Solstice Party.  I've gone every year and plan to continue the tradition - as I've always said, I think it's Cleveland's party of the year.  The music, food and people were amazing, including the stunning interactivity of slinging graffiti on the front facade of the building.  Win Win Win. Win.

 

Gang Gang Dance 10:00 p.m. Gang Gang Dance has honed a type of electronica that is equal parts tribal-futurism and dance music based on perfectly controlled havoc, emphasizing the ritualistic elements of their sound.

Nortec Collective Presents Bostich & Fussible 11:00 p.m. In Tijuana, Mexico, the so-called Nortec movement took shape when producers began fusing cutting-edge electronic music with traditional music of the region such as norteño and banda. This collective explores their take on the norteño and techno blend.

Novalima 12:30 a.m. Novalima is the band that has revolutionized the music scene in their native Peru. Novalima combines a passion for traditional Afro-Peruvian music and modern DJ culture. Their shared fascination with afro beat, dub reggae, latin, and electronic music has resulted in platinum status and worldwide touring.

Franz Ferdinand (5/31/17)

This year I decided that (almost) immediately following the Movement Festival, I was also going to attend the Nelsonville Music Festival.  This gave me 1 whole day at home between trips.  While I wasn’t originally planning on catching Franz Ferdinand at the House of Blues on this day, a series of awesome events landed me there.  Totally worth it.

Radiate 2016

As I’ve been really enjoying the Hot Mass dance parties in Pittsburgh, and looking forward to another year at Movement (Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival), I thought it might be fun to check out one of our local dance party / raves.  I’ve been seeing Cumulus put these things together and this was a perfect night to try it out.  I thought it would be all black lights and glow sticks - and I was right.  I wasn’t surprised to see just how young the crowd was either.  Still, it wasn’t terrible!  Not my favorite kind of dance music, but it was a still a fun experience.  Besides, it was great to get back inside the The Agora again.

Future Islands / Javelin (10/27/11)

The Beachland has really been rocking the end of this October, with yet another great show. This time I was seeing Javelin & Future Islands, both are bands that I have seen before.  But opening first was Ed Schrader's Music Beat.  I know I've seen these guys before, probably as an opener I didn't write about.  However, they're worthy of a mention here, especially watching both guys from Future Islands and Javelin in the audience rocking' out to them.  Not sure how quite to describe them, other than experimental.  I'd totally see them again.

Javelin was next and they were SUPERB.  As good of a show as I've seen them perform (and I've seen them twice).  Super high energy, and the electronic drumming was just exhausting and thrilling to watch, all at the same time.  I'm a little pissed I didn't catch video of these guys, but definitely one of the best shows I've seen in a while.  (seriously low light and lots of movement on these pics)

Future Islands were just what I was expecting, again.  An incredibly intense, but enjoyable show.