For a decade now, techno tourists have descended upon the genre’s mecca in Detroit, MI for Movement Electronic Music Festival, offering three days of the most cutting-edge dance music sounds available on this side of the globe.
While the festival is the obvious draw for most visitors, the weekend’s ample afterparty options offer more nuanced and intimate experience for patrons seeking to venture off the beaten path. Far, far away from the bottle service madness of Miami Music Week superclubs, Detroit’s afterparty scene is an amalgamation of quirky venues, impeccable programming, and—most importantly—diehard music fans.
As always, DJ Times is here to cut through the noise and guide you to where you should be getting down this weekend. Here are our picks of the events you simply cannot miss if you’re heading out this weekend.
The Blu Party
Bleu Nightclub
Friday, May 27
Toronto’s first lady of tech-house is bringing her celebrated party series to the Motor City for the first time ever, and she’s enlisted a killer cast of talent to deliver dancefloor fire for its inaugural appearance. In addition to a performance from Sydney Blu herself, Dirtybird favorites Worthy and Christian Martin as well as Gene Farris, The Saunderson Brothers, and more are all slated to play.
Matthew Dear (Open to close)
Leland Hotel
Friday, May 27
The Detroit-based Ghostly stalwart takes to the decks for an all-night musical expedition on Movement eve. With a new album under his Audion alias due out soon, there’s never been a better time to catch the quirky DJ/producer. Get your weekend started right!
Detroit Love
Masonic Temple
Saturday, May 28
Carl Craig’s revered Detroit Love is coming home! While the brand will host a stage at Movement proper earlier in the day, it’s the afterparty that’s really going to make you text heart emojis to your entire phonebook. The techno icon will be joined by two other club legends, with Seth Troxler and Dubfire going back to back to back with Craig all night long. Seriously, this is going to be unforgettable.
Soul Clap’s House of Efunk
TV Lounge
Saturday, May 28
The Brooklyn-based duo is bringing the funk back to Detroit for the third edition of their signature event. Eli and Charlie have never skimped on bringing certified all-stars to the party in years past—George Clinton and The Egyptian Lover have graced the stage—but this weekend’s event takes it even further with an all vinyl DJ set from Biz Markie himself. Other highlights of the stacked three-room party (which runs from 11 PM on Saturday until noon on Sunday) include disco legend Maurice Fulton, a live set from Benoit and Sergio, and Crew Love stalwarts No Regular Play.
Dirtybird Presents Who’s Afraid of Detroit 10 Year Anniversary
Masonic Temple
Sunday, May 29
The tight-knit San Francisco booty bass collective is headed back to the homeland of its leader Claude VonStroke to celebrate the 10th birthday of his seminal “Who’s Afraid of Detroit” release on the label. Dirtybird cofounder (and DJ Times’ coverstar) Justin Martin will be joined by mainstays J.Phlip and Ardalan, but we’re suspecting a certain unannounced “special guest” may be a certain big bird himself.
OK Cool!
TV Lounge
Sunday, May 29
The Movement weekend staple returns for another top-notch installment at the TV Lounge, promising a spirited get-down for its fourth annual installment. Seth Troxler is taking the reigns as headliner for the third year running, but the rest of the lineup is no slouch either, with The Black Madonna, Dax Lee, Ataxia, Mood II Swing, Craig Richards, and more all confirmed.
Social Experiment vs. Visionquest
Leland City Club
Sunday, May 29
Visionquest’s trippy offerings have become a widely held favorite of many a Detroit raver over the years, and the label’s 2016 event with Social Experiment is another piping hot option. Art Department, Kenny Glasgow, Magda, Lee Curtiss, and Shaun Reeves are amongst the confirmed performers, and it’s sure to get dark, dirty, and a little weird into all hours of the night.
Repopulate Mars – Detroit
Exodus Rooftop
Monday, May 30
Lee Foss’ Repopulate Mars series has become a must-hit event for all Los Angeles clubbers, but he’s bringing the alien funk to Michigan for a special Detroit edition to commemorate the launch of it as a record label earlier this year. The Hot Creations cofounder will be gracing the cover of DJ Times’ June issue in just a few days, but you’ll want to catch him grace the decks alongside Kenny Glasgow, Golf Clap, and some very, very special guests.
