During the three-day Memorial Day weekend Electronic Music fans from around the world gathered in Detroit. Detroit has a bad reputation but that does not stop people from all around the globe from making the voyage to the home of techno each year for what some call “Techno Christmas.” It does not matter if Movement 2023 was your first or twenty-first trip to Hart Plaza, the 2023 edition will be remembered fondly by many for a very long time. With over 30,000 people in attendance each day the plaza was packed full of life, various sub-genres of electronic music, and good vibes all around.
Written by and Photography All Rights Reserved by Jessica Trail / JETRAIL Photography, LLC
When the festival started in 2000, it was known as Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) before changing to the name Movement in 2003. It has been held at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit each year since it started. The 2023 edition included 114 acts from all over the world with United States, Germany, and UK being the most represented. The festival was setup with six separate stages.
The stages have names fitting for their segment of Hart Plaza. There was the Detroit Stage, right by the entrance of the festival in a grassy area with shade that was crucial on the warm sunny weekend. Underground Stage, as you may have guessed, it was in an underground setting that felt like a proper rave the whole weekend. Then there was the Stargate Stage, right by a stargate shaped steel arch called Transcending Arch Monument. There was also the Pyramid Stage by a pyramid shaped landmark. The rear portion of festival was set right along the Detroit Riverwalk and the closest stage to the water was appropriately named Waterfront Stage. Lastly the recessed outdoor concrete amphitheater used as the main stage called the Movement Stage located centrally to all the other stages.
There were countless merchandise and food vendors, many bar locations to keep the lines low, as well as giveaways at multiple spots including sponsors such as Jars Cannabis and Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. There was a nicely shaded area within the VIP section with chairs, seats, and tree hammocks scattered around with a side view of the Movement Stage which made for a relaxing time in the near 90 degree weather (32°C). There was also a special spot setup for a VIP pop-up stage where people could see special sets from House of EFunk, Detroit Techno Militia, and Mija & friends birthday takeover.
While the main event was three days the days before and after Movement make for a nearly week-long party in Detroit. In addition to the official festival there were pre-parties all over the city that started two days prior on Thursday, nightly afterparties, and the day-after afterparties that went well into sunrise on Wednesday.
The musical acts who came from all over the world brought with them a wide variety of subgenres however the classic Detroit Techno was by far the most prevalent. There was truly something for everyone! Day 1 when the gates opened there was a distinct magic in the air. Everything was shiny and had a very inviting feel. The crowd trickled in at a steady pace after the first wave of people ready to get the festivities started right away. There were two artists that started as soon as the gates opened so the music and vibes were started right as people walked in. These vibes kept going well into the night and well past the end of the festival. At the end of the night it seemed like everyone was still pumped to be there and excited for the two remaining days.
In alphabetical order the day one artists included: 2Lanes, AK, Akua, Al Ester, Aux88, Basement Jaxx, BMG, Carl Craig ft Jon Dixon, Derrick Carter B2B Mark Farina, DJ Godfather, DJ Holographic, DJ Minx, Erika, Fusegrade, Ida Engberg, J House & Masquenada, Kash Doll, Kyle Hall B2B Byron the Aquarius, Ladylike, Maceo Plex, Magda B2B Mike Servito, Mark Broom, Masters At Work, Milan Ariel, MJ Nebreda, Moodyman, Niks, Octave One, Onyvaa, Shaun J. Wright, Sheefy McFly, Shigeto ft Dez Andres, Sillygirlcarmen, Stacey Hotwaxx Hale, Stacey Pullen, Surgeon, Three 6 Mafia, Tsha, Uniqu3, and Zeds Dead.
Day 2 started off a little slower as far as the crowd went but the people who were there were definitely running on Red Bull and adrenaline (author included). Once people got moving around though all signs of sluggishness from earlier in the day were long gone. By early evening hours the plaza was full of people again and the place was alive with happy people dancing in the warm sunshine and dancing away in the underground.
In alphabetical order the day two artists included: 313 Acid Queen, Adam Port, AMX, Ash Lauryn, Asher Perkins, Ben Klock, Ben UFO, Buzz Gore, Caribou, Cassy, Charlotte De Witte, Chris Liebing, Craig Gonzalez, Cybotron, Decoder B2B Jay York, DJ Nobu, Dru Ruiz, Eddie Fowlkes, Ela Minus, Green Velvet, Huey Mnemonic, Kevin Reynolds, Kevin Saunderson B2B Dantiez, KiNK, Lindsey Herbert, Mathew Jonson, Melé, Mister Joshooa, Ricardo Villalobos, Rimarkable, Robert Hood, Scan 7, Seth Troxler, Special Request, Suburban Knight, and Zip.
At the beginning of day 3 it seemed as though people were well into their grove of the festival and were ready to give it their all to finish off the holiday weekend properly. The plaza was full earlier in the day than day 2. The Movement stage was packed to capacity at times and the underground was bursting at the seams.
As the night closed out the people scattered to the various stages. Comments from people on the closing acts included “Karl has a way of filling the place with an overwhelming sense of joy, it almost felt religious” – Tyler in reference to Underworld. “The music and visuals were off the charts” – Jack in reference to Multiples (Speedy J + Surgeon). Seeing the pure joy on my boyfriend’s face when Kaskade Redux was playing was a “magic movement moment” – Sara. “His stage presence was amazing and very uplifting” – Maizy in reference to Fisher. “If this [music] was any harder it could not legally be techno” – anonymous person backstage in reference to Klangkuenstler.
In alphabetical order the day three artists included:
Audia, Audion, Beatnok, Beige, Ben Scott, Bonobo, Brian Kage, DJ Seinfeld, Dom Dolla B2B John Summit, Fjaak, Father Dukes, Fisher, Giorgia Angiuli, Heidi, Henry Brooks, Javonntte & Isaac, Kaskade Redux, Klangkuenstler, Ladymonix, Lauren Flax, Lee Foss, Loren, LSDXOXO, Luke Hess, Multiples, Rebûke, Sara Landry, Sinistarr, Skrillex, Soundmurderer, SPFDJ, Stephan Bodzin, Underworld, and Whodat
