Local Spins rounds up a busy weekend of live music music across the state — from Detroit to Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to Paw Paw to Trufant and beyond — in words, photos and a video.
Dancing in Motown: The weekend scene at Movement. (Photo/Michael Mastre)
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Cooler temps than usual aside, Memorial Day weekend heated up Michigan musically in a bevy of different ways.
From Detroit’s Movement Electronic Music Festival to Trufant’s Buses by the Beach Bus Benefit to Paw Paw’s tour stop by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at Warner Vineyards (followed by Neal Francis) to Kalamazoo’s string of performances by Hot Like Mars, Jon Spencer, Megan Rae Band and Kanin Wren’s Taylor Swift Experience, the live music assault covered lots of territory.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Fired up a big crowd at Warner Vineyards. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Turnstiles in Grand Rapids welcomed the unofficial start to summer on Saturday with outdoor and indoor live music (and Local Spinsation Ale) as part of a day-long “Domestics vs. Imports” car show and music fest.
Oh, and folk/blues/roots star Valerie June kicked off the first concert ever at Grand Rapids’ The Big Room on Monday. (Full review, photos, video here.)
Detroit’s Movement wrapped up its three-day fusillade of techno and more on Monday with Local Spins writer Todd Ernst recapping the action:
Historically, Monday has always proved to be a bit challenging for Movement attendees if for no other reason than they’re trying to summon whatever energy they have left from a busy Friday and Saturday night. However, Monday also proved to be the first full day of sunshine, and it’s clear Movement fans were there clearly to revel.
Walking in and hearing UK artist Prospa lay down an Ibiza-drenched variation of classic and contemporary house was both energizing and uplifting. Their club anthem, “Don’t Stop,” had the entire Stargate stage moving in unison.
As the sun dropped over the city’s skyline, Detroit native Claude Von Stroke dropped a remix of Prince’s “Kiss,” which proved to be one of the best vibe moments of Movement 2025.
Mau P literally sprinted through the artist entrance with his team and security trying to get him to Stargate for his 8 p.m. sundown set, and man, were they ready for the Dutch DJ’s signature bass-house sound.
Meanwhile, Jamie XX brought mid-tempo rhythms laced with grimey synth patterns as the crowd at the main stage swaggered in unison.
Local Spins’ recaps the rest of the week’s musical onslaught in images below.
PHOTO GALLERY: Movement 2025 – Days 2 and 3 (Sunday and Monday)
Photos by Michael Mastre
PHOTO GALLERY: Neal Francis, Smushie at Warner Vineyards (Sunday)
Photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at Warner Vineyards (Saturday)
Photos by Derek Ketchum
