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Guide To Movement Electronic Music Festival

Movement Electronic Music Festival Logo
(credit: paxahau.com)

If you didn't know ... Detroit is the birthplace of Techno. Head to Hart Plaza over Memorial Day weekend to experience The Motor City's electronic music prowess.

In the past there has been controversy surrounding the organization of this event, but since 2006, Paxahau Inc., a local promotions company out of Ferndale has been in charge and the future looks as bright as ever for Movement.

Where: Hart Plaza
When: Sat. May 28 - 30, 2011
Factoids: 106 musical performances and 5 stages; more than 95,000 in attendance in 2010 according to organizers

Online Pre-sale Tickets (until 11:59 p.m. Friday):
$35 single day
$70 three-day pass

Walk-Up Tickets:
$40 single day
$80 three-day pass

Get tickets for the festival and Paxahau's after hours parties.

Watch this phenomenal video highlighting the 2010 event.
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Movement Electronic Music Festival | Hart Plaza, Detroit: May 28-30 2011 by paxahau on YouTube

Carl Craig Fatboy Slim Felix da Housecat Movement Headliners
Carl Craig (69), Fatboy Slim and Felix da Housecat (credit: last.fm)

Stages and Headliners

There are multiple stages with Vitaminwater being where the headliners perform. Saturday culminates with House / Electro superstar Felix Da Housecat. Sunday's headliner is Detroit techno icon Carl Craig under his new name 69. The festival closes out with DJ and producer Fatboy Slim known for his tracks Weapon of Choice and Praise You on Monday.

Don't miss DJ Harvey, The Dirtbombs, Tortured Soul, Beardyman & Goldie. Learn more with our Fan's Take On The Movement Festival Lineup.

Stages:
Red Bull Music Academy
Beatport
Vitaminwater
Made in Detroit
Movement Torino

Full PDF schedule

Movement Opening Party Rusko & Z-trip
(credit: paxahau.com)

After Hours Parties

Hart Plaza is the epicenter of this electronic music festival, but many nearby venues are home to opening parties and after parties. Kick off the festivities at one of the opening parties on Friday or keep the beats thumping well into the next day at an after party. For even more after hours parties visit movementafterparties.com.

Friday - Get down with Rusko & Z-trip with Detroit Dubstep in the State Bar at The Fillmore Detroit (2115 Woodward Ave.) Alternatively you could check out the Paul Van Dyk and Anthony Attalla at Bleu (1540 Woodward Ave.)

Saturday - For some good house music check out Some Like it Hot Friday night at the Taste Pizzabar (1431 Times Square). On Saturday and Sunday head to Now in Stereo hosted by Disfresh at Exodus Lounge (525 Monroe St.)

Here are a couple more highlights of the MANY Saturday parties.

  • CLR 2011 Detroit at the Elysium (625 Shelby St.)
  • I Love You But I've Chosen Techno at The Works (1846 Michigan Ave.)
  • Circo Loco at the TV Bar (2548 Grand River Ave.)
  • Control at the City Club in the Leland Hotel (400 Bagley St.)
  • Basement Beats: Dirty South at MGM Grand Casino's V Nightclub (1777 Third St.)

Sunday - If you've got any gas left in the tank after three days of dancing head over to Detek & TEKsupport at The Works (1846 Michigan Ave.) or Voyage Royale: I'm On A Boat 3 on the Detroit Princess Riverboat right by Hart Plaza on the Riverfront.

Know Before You Go

Be aware that the festival will continue rain or shine. There will be no refunds, even if it rains cats and dogs.

Remember to train for a marathon and not a sprint. In other words don't blow yourself out on the first day and miss Sunday.

With that said, the weather in Detroit in around Memorial Day is historically hard to predict. From one day to the next you might want a hooded sweatshirt and a poncho or a jersey and basketball shorts. Keep an eye on WWJ-TV Chief Meteorologist Jim Madaus' seven day forecast. He'll give you a heads up so you are prepared for whatever.

Hey, bring the kids! All ages are welcome. Children twelve years and younger are admitted free.

Slows BBQ
(credit: slowsbarbq.com‎)

Food And Drink

Beverage options are pretty basic with $4 water or Vitamin Water or $7 beer. Besides the gyro stand in Hart Plaza, there are really no good food options unless you're craving an elephant ear. You'll find some hit and miss carnival type options on-site, but let's expand our horizons. These are all within walking distance or a quick cab ride.

  • Enjoy fine cuisine at celebrity chef Michael Symon's restaurant Roast (1128 Washington Ave.).
  • Weigh in on the coney rivalry at Lafayette Coney Island (118 W. Lafayette) and American Coney Island (114 W. Lafayette).
  • Experience one of the best barbecue places in the country at Slows BBQ (2138 Michigan Ave.).
  • $4 chicken shawarma is a delicious steal at Bucharest Grill (2040 Park Ave.)
  • Saturday at Eastern Market is a local favorite. It's more than just tomatoes and flowers. You won't leave hungry.
  • We also highly recommend the authentic Greek cuisine in Greektown.

Ear Plugs
(credit: istock.com)

Things To Bring (And Not To Bring)

Do bring ear protection! The audio systems are state of the art and the sound is relentless so hearing damage is pretty much a given unless you wear some protection. Be a pal and bring extra for your friends and fellow concert goers.

Hand sanitizer is a must since washing your hands is not always an option. There are a ton of people crammed into small space for three days. Things are bound to get messy. Do yourself a favor and sterilize your hands a couple times a day.

Searches at the gate are mandatory and if you bring any of the items on this list they will be confiscated. Alcohol, bottles, cans, glass, animals and sound systems may not be brought on to the festival site. All bags, purses or backpacks are subject to search. It is forbidden to bring any type of professional recording device, either audio or video, onto the festival grounds. Any item deemed to be a weapon by gate staff will be confiscated and we wouldn't be surprised if police got involved so leave the nunchucks at home.

Hart Plaza
(credit: google maps)

Coming And Going

Shuttle Service - The Night Move is the official transportation provider of Movement. They're constantly driving between Royal Oak and Ferndale to Movement every day of the festival. thenightmove.com

Driving Directions (via movement.us)

From the South: Take I-75 N. to exit 49. Sign reads 49A (Rosa Parks Boulevard) and 49B (M-10). Keep right at the fork, follow signs for MI-10 S/Civic Center/Cobo Center and merge onto MI-10 Southbound. Follow Lodge/M10 south until it becomes Jefferson Ave. Hart Plaza is on your right hand side at the southern corner of Woodward and Jefferson.

From the North: Take I-75 South until it becomes I-375 (Civic Center Freeway). Freeway will become Jefferson West. Don't go under Cobo. Hart plaza is located on you left hand side at the southern corner of Woodward and Jefferson.

From the East: Take I-94 East and follow to exit 215A (John C. Lodge / M10 South) Follow Lodge/M10 south until it becomes Jefferson Ave. Hart Plaza is on your right hand side at the southern corner of Woodward and Jefferson.

From West Michigan via I-96: Take I-96 to exit 163 (I-696 East/Port Huron/ M-5 East). Follow I-696 left to exit 8 (M10/South/Downtown) Follow Lodge/M10 south until it becomes Jefferson Ave. Hart Plaza is on your right hand side at the southern corner of Woodward and Jefferson.

From the West via Local I-96/M14: Take I-96 /M14 East toward Downtown to Exit 190A (I-94 East/Port Huron) Follow I-94 East 1.5 Miles to Exit 215A ( John C. Lodge / M10 South) Follow Lodge/M10 south until it becomes Jefferson Ave. Hart Plaza is on your right hand side at the southern corner of Woodward and Jefferson.

From the West via I-94: Take I-94 East and follow to exit 215A ( John C. Lodge / M10 South) Follow Lodge/M10 south until it becomes Jefferson Ave. Hart Plaza is on your right hand side at the southern corner of Woodward and Jefferson.

Movement Vitamin Water Stage
(credit: Douglas Wojciechowski/movement.us)

Parking

Ford Underground Parking
30 East Jefferson Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 877-8787

Ford Underground Parking is probably the most convenient. It's located right outside the gates of Hart Plaza. Find the entrance between the lanes of Jefferson Ave. Cross streets are Randolph St. and Woodward Ave. During the festival weekend you'll pay $15 a day. Bring cash because you'll have to pre-pay. Let the attendant know if you plan to be there more than 24 hours. There are conflicting reports of whether it's handicapped accessible, but give them a call at the number above to get more info.

As an alternative you can park for free at Greektown Casino. You just have to jump through a couple hoops. Go to the customer service desk and sign up for a Club Greektown Membership. If you don't want to sign up, casino reps say you can get a $10 casino voucher instead. Hey, just put it on the don't pass line on the craps table and have some fun!

Lodging

Rooms are still available at the writing of this article according to Hotels.com

  • Marriot at the Renaissance Center $199
  • Doubletree Downtown Fort Shelby $199

Detroit Hostel: If you're adventurous you can't find lodging much cheaper. Give them a call to make a reservation. They'll give you an access code since the door is locked 24/7. Pitch your tent in their fenced yard for $40 bucks. Campers still get access to the kitchen and bathrooms.

Wheelhouse Detroit
(credit: wheelhousedetroit.com)

Techno in the 313 Bike Tour

Riders will see music landmarks such as The Music Institute, Underground Resistance HQ, the Packard Plant. There will be two tours, including a long tour on Sunday and a short tour on Monday. The tour and a bike will cost $25-$40 depending on the length of the tour and whether you have your own bike. Each tour is limited to 15 riders so reserve a spot early. Visit wheelhousedetroit.com.

Get More: New & Improved Movement Festival iPhone App Now Available on iTunes

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