Movement festival 2023: What to know as the techno music world converges on Detroit
The heartbeat of techno music is still thumping in Detroit — and it'll be loud across the city this weekend.
The Memorial Day stretch brings one of Detroit's most distinctive cultural traditions, as the Movement electronic music festival takes over Hart Plaza and parties spring up across town for after-hours revelers.
Movement, running Saturday through Monday, is stacked with its biggest lineup to date, with more than 120 artists on six stages. Weekend passes and single-day tickets are available.
This is the 22nd edition of Detroit’s Memorial Day weekend techno festival, and it’s the 16th staged by Paxahau, the Detroit event promoter that took charge of the fest in 2006.
Here's an overview:
First woman headliner
Belgian DJ-producer Charlotte de Witte was just starting to blow up internationally when she made her Movement debut in 2018 with a performance on the underground stage. This year, she’ll be in the top slot to close out the main stage Sunday night, often the festival’s peak audience day — becoming the first woman to headline Detroit's techno festival since its 2000 inception.
De Witte arrives in Detroit on the heels of the new EP “Overdrive” and the single “High Street.” She’ll hit the decks at the Hart Plaza bowl 10:30 p.m. Sunday.
Also headlining are a pair of veteran U.K. duos: Basement Jaxx, of 1999's "Red Alert" fame, will play the main stage Saturday, and the fest will wrap up Monday with Underworld, finally playing Movement after the group's 2020 booking was thwarted by the COVID-19 shutdown.
Skrillex will perform a make-good set at 8 p.m. Monday, having bailed out of last year’s festival to finish work on a pair of albums ultimately released in February, “Quest for Fire” and “Don’t Get Too Close.”
Saturday highlights also include Three 6 Mafia and Zeds Dead, while Sunday will bring Caribou, Green Velvet and a premiere by Defected Records in a showcase led by Kevin Saunderson. Monday features Dom Dolla with John Summit, Kaskade Redux and more.
Detroit flexes its muscle
Movement has made its reputation by curating global, tastemaker-sanctioned talent alongside the homegrown Detroit DJs who remain the spiritual core of the event.
Techno godfather Juan Atkins will play the main stage Sunday under his Cybotron moniker, revisiting the early-1980s work that helped prime Detroit’s electronic-music revolution. Fellow techno-house pioneer Kevin Saunderson and his son Dantiez will collaborate that same night on the Stargate Stage.
Carl Craig and Jon Dixon will cap a daylong Saturday showcase dubbed "Detroit Love," which will also bring hometowners Moodymann, Octave One, DJ Holographic and more to the Stargate Stage.
Eddie Fowlkes and Robert Hood are set for Sunday’s main stage, while other Detroit staples through the weekend include Aux 88, Seth Troxler, Kash Doll, Stacey (Hotwaxx) Hale, Suburban Knight and Sheefy McFly.
A tribute to techno royalty
“Respect the Artists,” an exhibition honoring figures key to the rise of Detroit techno, will return to Hart Plaza’s underground space for a second year, this time with a beefed-up display paying tribute to artists such as Delano Smith, Mike Huckaby, Mike Banks, Kelli Hand and more.
Movement's 2023 artists-in-residence, Amy Fisher Price and Kelly Golden, will spearhead a multimedia installation near the Pyramid Stage titled “Detroit Techno City,” while gear company Sweetwater will present a music-technology studio near the Detroit Stage.
‘God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines' on the big screen
Having made its Detroit premiere last August in a screening presented by Big Sean and the Freep Film Festival, this lively techno-music documentary will have its second local showing 7 p.m. Friday at the Michigan Science Center. The screening will be followed by a meet-and-greet with filmmakers.
Tickets for Friday's showing of the Tribeca-endorsed doc are $20 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
Directed by Kristian Hill, "God Said Give 'Em Drum Machines" chronicles the daring and drama of Detroit’s burgeoning techno scene in the ‘80s, with rare footage and appearances by many of the genre’s pioneering figures.
The movie's team will also host a documentary filmmaking workshop at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Detroit Historical Museum.
Movement festival, 2023 schedule
Saturday
Movement Stage (Saturday)
4 p.m.-6 p.m.: Stacey Hale
6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: Ida Engberg
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.: Stacey Pullen
9 p.m.-10:20 p.m.: Maceo Plex
10:30 p.m.-midnight: Basement Jaxx (DJ Set)
Waterfront Stage presented by JARS (Saturday)
3 p.m.-4:45 p.m.: House Party (J House & Masquenada)
4:45 p.m.-5:45 p.m.: Shigeto w/ Dez Andres (Live)
5:50 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: MJ Nebreda
6:30 p.m.-7:45 p.m.: DJ Godfather
7:45 p.m.-8:45 p.m.: UNIIQU3
8:45 p.m.-10 p.m.: Zeds Dead (Altered States)
10:15 p.m.-10:45 p.m.: Kash Doll
11 p.m.-midnight: Three 6 Mafia
Stargate Stage (Saturday)
Detroit Love Showcase
2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Niks
3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Kyle Hall b2b Byron the Aquarius
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: Moodymann
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.: DJ Holographic
9 p.m.-10 p.m.: Octave One (Live)
10 p.m.-midnight: Carl Craig feat. Jon Dixon (Live)
Underground Stage (Saturday)
3 p.m.-4 p.m.: Erika
4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: BMG
5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.: Akua
7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: Onyvaa
8:30 p.m.-10 p.m.: Mark Broom
10 p.m.-midnight: Surgeon
Pyramid Stage (Saturday)
House Your Life Showcase
2 p.m.-3 p.m.: Al Ester
3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Shaun J. Wright
4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.: Magda B2B Mike Servito
6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: TSHA
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.: Derrick Carter b2b Mark Farina
9 p.m.-10:30 p.m.: DJ Minx
10:30 p.m.-midnight: Masters at Work
Detroit Stage (Saturday)
3 p.m.-4 p.m.: Ladylike
4 p.m.-5 p.m.: Milan Atkins
5 p.m.-6 p.m.: SILLYGIRLCARMEN
6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Fusegrade
7 p.m.-8 p.m.: 2Lanes
8 p.m.-9 p.m.: AK
9 p.m.-10 p.m.: Sheefy McFly
10 p.m.-11 p.m.: AUX 88 (Live)
VIP Area Pop Up (Saturday)
6 p.m.-9 p.m.: Soul Clap presents House of EFUNK
Sunday
Movement Stage (Sunday)
4 p.m.-5 p.m.: Huey Mnemonic
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Eddie Fowlkes
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Ben Klock
8:15 p.m.-9:15 p.m.: Cybotron
9:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.: Robert Hood (Live)
10:30 p.m.-midnight: Charlotte de Witte
Waterfront Stage presented by JARS (Sunday)
3 p.m.-4 p.m.: Kevin Reynolds (Live)
4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Mister Joshooa
5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.: Cassy
7 p.m.-8 p.m.: Paranoid London (Live)
8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: Special Request
9:45 p.m.-10:45 p.m.: Ela Minus
11 p.m.-midnight: Caribou
Stargate Stage (Sunday)
KMS Records presents Defected Showcase
2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Rimarkable
3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: Melè
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Ash Lauryn
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Sam Divine
8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: Adam Port
9:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.: KiNK (Live)
10:30 p.m.-midnight: Kevin Saunderson b2b Dantiez
Underground Stage (Sunday)
3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Decoder b2b Jay York
4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.: Lindsey Herbert
6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: AMX
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.: Ben Sims
9 p.m.-10:30 p.m.: DJ Nobu
10:30 p.m.-midnight: Chris Liebing
Pyramid Stage (Sunday)
2 p.m.-4 p.m.: Ryan Crosson b2b Shaun Reeves
4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Mathew Jonson (Live)
5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.: Zip
7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: Seth Troxler
8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.: Ricardo Villalobos
10:30 p.m.-midnight: Green Velvet
Detroit Stage (Sunday)
3 p.m.-4 p.m.: Dru Ruiz
4 p.m.-5 p.m.: Craig Gonzalez
5 p.m.-6 p.m.: Rebecca Goldberg (313 Acid Queen Set)
6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Asher Perkins
7 p.m.-8 p.m.: Santonio Echols
8 p.m.-9 p.m.: Buzz Goree
9 p.m.-10 p.m.: Scan7 (Live)
10 p.m.-11 p.m.: Suburban Knight
VIP Area Pop Up (Sunday)
6 p.m.-9 p.m.: Detroit Techno Militia: T.Linder, DJ Seoul, DJ Cent, Joe Hix
Monday
Movement Stage (Monday)
4 p.m.-5 p.m.: Loren
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Audion (Live)
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Bonobo (DJ Set)
8 p.m.-9:15 p.m.: Skrillex
9:30 p.m.-11 p.m.: Underworld
Waterfront Stage (Monday)
2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Brain Kage
3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: Luke Hess
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Lauren Flax
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: DJ Seinfeld
8 p.m.-10 p.m.: Fjaak
10 p.m.-11 p.m.: MULTIPLES (Surgeon & Speedy J) Hardware Live
Stargate Stage (Monday)
3 p.m.-5 p.m.: Beige
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Giorgia Angiuli (Live)
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Lee Foss
8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: Dom Dolla b2b John Summit
9:30 p.m.-11 p.m.: Kaskade Redux
Underground Stage (Monday)
3 p.m.-5 p.m.: Henry Brooks
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: LSDxoxo
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Sara Landry
8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: SPFDJ
9:30 p.m.-11 p.m.: Klangkuenstler
Pyramid Stage (Monday)
2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Father Dukes
3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: Ladymonix
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Heidi
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Rebuke
8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: Stephan Bodzin (Live)
9:30 p.m.-11 p.m.: FISHER
Detroit Stage (Monday)
3 p.m.-4 p.m.: Ben Scott
4 p.m.-5 p.m.: Javonntte & Isaac Prieto - Hybrid Set
5 p.m.-6 p.m.: Whodat
6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Audia
7 p.m.-8 p.m.: Beatnok
8 p.m.-9 p.m.: Sinistarr
9 p.m.-10 p.m.: Soundmurderer
VIP Area Pop Up (Monday)
6 p.m.-9 p.m.: Mija & Friends Birthday Takeover
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Movement fest 2023: What to know as techno world converges on Detroit
