Photography By: Rachel Greenberg
There’s something about Detroit in May. The rhythm echoes through the streets, and for one long weekend, the city becomes a dance floor.
Movement Festival turned 25 this year, and we knew we had to be there to experience it for ourselves.
We went in expecting world-class music. But the birthplace of techno didn’t just host a festival, it came alive. We left with a deep respect for Detroit’s creative grit, a few new favorite artists, and some seriously good food in our bellies. (Because yes, Detroit is a food city. Don’t sleep on it.)
The Soundtrack of the City
Movement isn’t trying to be trendy. It doesn’t chase clout. It’s for the real music lovers. It’s for the dancers. It’s for the ravers. The ones who don’t just listen to techno — they live it. From the legendary Carl Craig to breakout sets from artists like Sara Landry and SPFDJ, the energy was relentless in the best way.
Each stage had its own flavor, but we kept finding our way back to the Underground Stage. Gritty. Loud. Alive. And somehow still intimate, like a secret you were lucky to be in on.
The People Make the Party
What stood out most wasn’t just the music, it was the crowd. There’s no pretension here. Just thousands of people from all over the world who came to feel something real (and trade a few kandis while they’re at it). We saw dancers in full glam, ravers in camo and sneakers, and people in their 60s outshining us on the dance floor. There’s no “right” way to show up at Movement. Just come as you are, with love for the music and the community.
Detroit, We See You
Between sets, we explored the vendors and fueled up with some of the best bites we’ve had at a festival. The pizza egg rolls? Out of this world. And the Coney dog we grabbed one night honestly put New York and Chicago both to shame (sorry, not sorry). Detroit fed us in every sense: the art, the food, the people. It all adds to what makes Movement so unforgettable.
Why It’s Called Movement
There’s a reason this festival is called Movement, and we didn’t fully grasp it until we experienced it for ourselves. The layout is flat, spacious, and made for dancing. Most of the grounds are concrete, with room to move freely. At some stages you’ll even find dedicated dance platforms; smooth, wooden sheets for shufflers and breakers. It’s a dancer’s paradise. As someone who lives to move, this felt like a homecoming. For the first time in a long time, we found ourselves in a true flow state with space, respect, and music that really did move us on every level.
If you go next year (and you should), come early. Stay late. Eat well. Dance hard. Talk to strangers. And don’t forget earplugs to protect your ears for the decades of Movement still to come.