Movement Detroit: A Lifelong Techno Lover’s First Pilgrimage

The 2025 edition of Movement Detroit was nothing short of divine, a family reunion for Detroit and all those who love techno music.

Over Memorial Day Weekend, I had the opportunity to attend one of the most sought-after events for techno lovers around the world. It’s the Holy Land, a festival that was founded by the creators of techno and held in the city where it was born. The name of the event is Movement Detroit.

Most reading this ought to be familiar with the legacy behind the festival. For the few who aren’t, the history is quite interesting. Movement fought hard to make their techno dream a reality. To summarize for the sake of short attention spans, the story of how the festival came to be is a great example of how nothing worth having comes easy.

Today, Movement is globally referred to as the techno pilgrimage. It’s an annual gathering of techno producers, DJs, ravers, and connoisseurs from all over the world.

Photo credit: Taylor Olsen

Making My Way Downtown (to Detroit)

I left my eventual attendance at Movement Detroit up to the divine. When I was meant to be there, the opportunity would arise, and it would work out as it should. I didn’t want to force such a holy techno experience. My soul knew it would be there. I just had to be patient. This year, I finally found myself on Hart Plaza.

Once I landed in Detroit, I fought back tears. I was there. I was setting foot on the section of Earth that created techno, the genre that’s kept me alive, the music that always comes back to me is the one consistent in my ever-evolving identity. I felt like I was home.

My First Movement Detroit Festival

The festival began on Saturday, and I must say, Movement should really come with a disclaimer: “Warning: once you enter Hart Plaza, you’ll never return to yourself again.”

From the moment I stepped onto the grounds, something in me shifted. I felt safe and seen.

I walked into the festival and first landed at the Stargate Stage. Detroit Love, techno pioneer Carl Craig’s collective, was doing a takeover, and it was phenomenal to say the least. Twenty minutes into the event, and I already had three Shazams — a great start to the day.

A few hours went by, and I had landed at the Detroit Stage. I chatted with a stranger and his lovely wife. I didn’t know who was playing, but it sounded sexy. I made a quick note on my phone: “5:30 Detroit stage.” I would later discover that it was Waajeed b2b Lady Monix.

Saturday night ended with Jeff Mills. In an hour and a half time slot, he managed to take us through several dimensions, safely landing us back down to Earth via the sound of a live 909 — all by the stroke of midnight.

On Sunday, I walked into Dubfire at the Movement Stage and was pleasantly surprised. Dubfire, I was not aware of your game. I apologize.

Anifisa Letyago followed him, taking on the 7pm-8:30pm time slot. Not to be dramatic, but it was some of the best techno I’ve heard in a while, mixed with other styles for good measure. I ended the day with DJ Nobu at the Underground Stage.

Somehow, I had the most energy out of all three days come Monday. I started the day with DJ Godfather at the Waterfront Stage. HiTech was after him, so I was prepared to park myself there for the next few hours — and that’s precisely what I did. I then meandered over to the Pyramid Stage to catch (what I thought was) the end of Seth Troxler, only to find out that he had an entire hour left.

After Seth, I bopped around before making my final departure from the festival. I stood still at many parts of Hart Plaza to take one last glimpse of everything. I needed the visual to be woven into my mind.

Photo credit: Taylor Olsen

Here’s To the First of many Movement Detroit Festivals to Come

I will never be the same after my first Movement Detroit. My soul had finally come home to a place my physical being hadn’t yet been. I was surrounded by fellow techno freaks from all walks of life, from all corners of the world. I was home.

And the music. I was warned before I went that I would be experiencing electronic music at its highest level. Detroit has garnered so much respect that DJs wouldn’t dare play anything they haven’t meticulously tested. My Shazam library has never been more fruitful.

As a lifelong techno connoisseur, my first Movement was well worth the wait. I’ve never felt more whole in my entire life. I’ve never felt more seen.

It was the first, and it could never be my last. Movement Detroit, thank you my love.

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