Movement Day 3: A High Energy Conclusion

The sun was blazing over Hart Plaza as Movement began its final day with the warmest weather Michigan had delivered all weekend. Monday’s crowds were significantly larger than the previous two days, thanks to the packed lineup across all stages.

DJ Holographic Takes the Main Stage

Detroit-born DJ and producer DJ Holographic stepped onto Movement’s main stage for a career-defining performance that felt long overdue. Holographic has become a vital voice in the city’s electronic scene, she has played Movement many times over the years but this marked her first time taking the main stage where the festival’s biggest names typically perform.

Her set immediately distinguished itself from typical festival performances. The continuous crossover between house and techno felt natural while maintaining authentically Detroit elements throughout. 

When she dropped a heavily reworked Presets remix complete with 80s synth elements woven seamlessly into the electronic framework, it demonstrated the creative versatility that caught Carl Craig’s attention when he selected her to curate Detroit Love Vol. 5 in 2021.

Claude VonStroke’s Unreleased Collaboration

Claude VonStroke took the stage after Holographic with a heavier approach, incorporating Detroit’s signature rhythmic elements into his refined tech house sound. The performance represented VonStroke’s new creative phase – dubbed “VonStroke 2.0” following his 2022 sale of Dirtybird Records, the influential West Coast house label he founded in 2005

The energy was building steadily when VonStroke delivered the evening’s most unexpected moment. He brought comedian and musician Reggie Watts on stage for a completely unreleased collaboration that took the crowd by surprise.

The duo performed “This MFing Beat,” set for release on June 13, marking VonStroke’s return to the boundary-pushing collaborations that defined his career. The performance perfectly captured his current creative philosophy.

“I’m probably not even supposed to be talking about it, but who cares, because no one’s in charge of me!” VonStroke said in an interview with Billboard

Diverse and International Performances Across Hart Plaza

Movement once again maintained a diverse musical selection through Monday’s lineup, with artists from across the globe bringing regional sounds into conversation with Detroit’s musical heritage.

Berlin-based producer MCR-T delivered one of the day’s most intense performances at the Waterfront Stage, incorporating hardcore techno with his own live vocals throughout.

His set concluded with hardstyle elements that perfectly set the energy for Sara Landry’s upcoming performance, showcasing how a carefully planned lineup and an artist’s ability to read the crowd allow the evening to flow as one larger musical statement.

The Waterfront Stage also hosted UK duo Chase & Status, who brought their signature blend of drum & bass, UK garage, and other bass music to Detroit’s riverfront.

The London-based producers represent a deep connection between British electronic music and Jamaican sound system culture. Their sound is heavily rooted in the dub influences of pioneers like King Tubby and Lee Perry.

At the Stargate Stage, Dutch producer Mau P drew the stage’s largest crowd of the weekend with a tech house set that opened with a sample from Ini Kamoze’s reggae classic “World a Reggae (Out in the Street They Call It Murder).” 

The 28-year-old artist, who previously produced big room house under the alias Maurice West, has emerged as one of tech house’s brightest rising talents since his 2022 breakout hit “Drugs From Amsterdam.”

The Detroit Stage offered a reminder of the format that built the culture. Veteran producer Norm Talley delivered his set using vinyl records, representing a direct connection to Detroit’s deep house foundations. Talley, an early student of legendary Ken Collier and part of the Detroit Beatdown trio, maintained his vinyl-only approach as both artistic choice and cultural preservation.

One of the weekends most standout B2B sets was the collaboration of Loco Dice and Vintage Culture at the Stargate Stage. Loco Dice, a Tunisian-German tech house veteran, known for legendary residencies at DC-10 Ibiza, paired with Brazilian producer Vintage Culture who has emerged as one of house music’s most exciting rising talents.

Amid the heavy lineup across multiple stages, Jamie xx was a welcome change in pace for the day at the Movement Stage. The British producer brought a slower, deeper melodic sound to the set, while simultaneously shifting the energy, evolving the perfect buildup for the evening’s headlining performance.

Movement’s Underground Stage once again lived up to its reputation as a platform for all things dark, heavy and raw when Boys Noize took control of the space. The German producer’s aggressive electronic foundation created bass frequencies that escaped the underground confines entirely, with festival-goers throughout Hart Plaza feeling the seismic impact.

John Summit Delivers the Perfect Conclusion

The festival’s finale belonged to John Summit, whose headlining set was an artistic conclusion of Movement’s carefully curated musical progression throughout the weekend. Spanning house to techno and everything in between, Summit bought closure to the weekend by bringing it all together.

Summit delivered an on-brand, yet midwest-influenced performance that showcased his signature house sound while exploring deeper cuts from his catalog along with new releases. He performed his newest single “Light Years” featuring Inéz alongside tracks that demonstrated his evolving approach to incorporating melodic and deeper techno elements alongside classic sounds from Detroit techno and Chicago house. 

The Chicago producer’s set reached its emotional peak with his closing track “Go back” featuring Julia Church. The choice felt like a perfect choice to wrap up a festival that spent three days celebrating electronic music’s past, present, and future.

The song’s themes of nostalgia and longing resonated with the crowd’s reluctance to see another Movement Festival was soon to end, providing a conclusion that made the entire weekend feel complete.

Movement 2025’s final day demonstrated the festival’s unique position as both historical archive and contemporary showcase. The lineup illustrated how electronic music continues evolving while maintaining connection to its foundational elements.

From Norm Talley’s vinyl dedication to Mau P’s reggae samples, the day showcased electronic music’s capacity for reinvention without abandoning its roots.

Artists MCR-T and Chase & Status brought their international sounds to the stage to blend with Detroit’s electronic heritage. This reinforced how the midwest, and particularly Detroit continues to be an influence in the international electronic music scene.

As Hart Plaza emptied and Movement concluded its 2025 edition, the final day served as both celebration and promise. It honored the architects while showcasing the new generation that will carry electronic music into its next chapter.