Detroit’s Movement Music Festival lit up Hart Plaza this past Memorial Day weekend (May 24–26, 2025), celebrating its 25th anniversary as one of the world’s premier electronic music gatherings. Often called “Techno Christmas,” Movement is far more than a festival—it’s a ritual, a reunion, and a living monument to Detroit’s role as the birthplace of techno.

For three days, Detroit transformed into a global dance floor. Over 115 acts spread across six carefully curated stages, drawing fans from around the world. The lineup blended international heavyweights—Charlotte de Witte, John Summit, Nina Kraviz—with homegrown legends like Jeff Mills, Carl Craig b2b Moodymann, DJ Minx, Chuck Daniels, Kevin Saunderson alongside his sons and Stacey Pullen. Together, they created a soundtrack that honored the city’s legacy while pushing electronic music into the future.

One of the festival’s most talked-about moments was the return of our hometown hero Claude VonStroke. After a hiatus to focus on other projects, the Dirtybird label boss came back with the quirky, chopped-up house grooves that once made him a long time Movement resident showman with a surprise cameo from the man himself - Reggie Watts.

Movement is as much a cultural archive as it is a festival. Vinyl vendors hawked rare 12-inches from milk crates, graffiti artists painted murals in real time, and the grounds buzzed with the sense that every corner held a piece of Detroit’s story. It was past, present, and future, stitched together by rhythm.

The experience didn’t end when the stages went quiet. Afterparties carried the energy deep into the night, spilling into Detroit’s legendary clubs, warehouses, and rooftops. For many, these underground gatherings are just as essential as the main event—gritty, raw, and authentically Detroit. As one fan quipped online, “Movement afters are bananas…starting at 10 p.m. Thursday and going until 6 a.m. Tuesday. It’s a whole thing.”

The festival also showcased Detroit’s broader creative spirit. Local food vendors offered everything from soul food to vegan street eats. Artists and shop owners lined pathways with handmade goods, turning Hart Plaza into an open-air market of Detroit’s ingenuity. It was a reminder that Movement is not just about music but about supporting the city and the people who make it thrive.

As someone who moved to Detroit in 2013 for its music and art, Movement has always been more than just an event to me. It’s a love letter to the city. Walking through the crowds—past global stars, hometown heroes, and everyday fans—I felt the same shared connection: a deep respect for Detroit’s culture and an infectious joy that only this festival delivers.

The people are what make Movement shine. Friendly, passionate, and united by sound, they embody the heart of Detroit. Paxahau, the festival organizers, once again delivered an event that was both massive and intimate, monumental yet personal.

If Movement 2025 proved anything, it’s that Detroit’s techno spirit is as strong as ever. Twenty-five years in, the festival feels both timeless and forward-looking. I can’t wait to see how Movement 2026 builds on this legacy. Until then, I’ll hold onto the memory of waterfalls of sound, rumbling bass, and a city celebrating itself in the most unforgettable way.

One Love Detroit, Until Next Year!