Movement Electronic Music Festival kicked off the holiday weekend at Detroit’s Hart Plaza on Saturday with a whirlwind of international and regional stars. Browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Techno Throngs: With the Ren Cen in the background, crowds reveled in Movement’s star attractions. (Photo/Michael Mastre)
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Disregarding the crisp weather, Movement danced into downtown Detroit on Saturday with thousands embracing techno’s premier celebration.
Day 1 of the 2025 edition of Movement Electronic Music Festival at Hart Plaza found global and local fans of techno reveling in all things Detroit.
From Detroit Techno Militia’s annual BBQ on Thursday, Bang Tech 12’s signature “Bang the Book” launch party on Friday night, and to the gates opening at Beatport’s No. 1 festival in the world, Detroit fired on all cylinders during the annual pilgrimage to techno’s “Mecca.”
“My God, the bass in the underground stage will loosen a lung,” noted Sean Kevin, a Grand Rapids native.
Another wrote on Facebook that Movement’s resounding strains could be heard at their house all the way across the river.
Festival attendees were welcomed at the entrance during Dennis Ferrer’s soul-drenched sound of NYC house at the Stargate stage. After the sun dropped, it was Chicago’s The Blessed Madonna whipping the crowd into a frenzy at the Pyramid Stage on the banks of the Detroit River.
Closing down the night, all eyes were on Detroit native son Jeff Mills, providing a master class in fusing a Roland TR-909 into his 90-minute set of thunderous techno. Comparatively, Mills is to techno what Eddie Van Halen is to rock ‘n’ roll.
Meanwhile, one fan called Amsterdam producer Joris Voorn’s performance on the Pyramid Stage the “best set of the day.”
Browse Local Spins’ photographic recount of Day 1 by Michael Mastre below. And check out the Day 2 and 3 schedules, and a Local Spins festival preview here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Movement 2025 – Day 1 (Hart Plaza, Detroit)
Photos by Michael Mastre
