ACRONYM ZINE History Lesson: Movement Detroit

THIS MOVEMENT DETROIT PIECE IS A STORY WRITTEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE WRITER. BECAUSE OF THIS, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE HISTORICAL FACTS, ARTISTS THAT DESERVE HISTORICAL RESPECT, AND MORE THAT MAY NOT BE CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE. 

You would have thought when I was born I had a camera in my hand… Well, almost. My name is Ami Nicole AKA ACRONYM, and grew up with a camera in my face, constantly. This was long before the days of cell phones and people cranking out clips of their kids doing stupid stuff on the internet. Flash forward to 2002, my main accessory was a camera – albeit film during that time, and I was doing the photographing.

BY 2009, MY FRIENDS AND I HEARD OF “DEMF”

Movement Detroit used to go by a different name: The Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF). We descended on Hart Plaza on the makings of a huge operation, but it was still slightly underground until years to come. After the first night, I was hooked. I missed the second night, but then my Grandpa gave me cash to go for a third time (I was still under 21 at this point).

I set my eyes on Patrica, aka Grandma Techno. I took a photo of her, realizing how transcendent this music is for everyone. At that point, I was just an observer of this world, I had not yet been fully immersed.

THE OBSESSION

I made a point of being there every year after 2009. By 2014, I had begun writing underneath the name Detroit Ginger, highlighting music and makers in the city of Detroit, while using ACRONYM Creative Studio as the photo conduit. I was permitted media access, and a few years later, earned photo access. By that time, a new age was born.

MOVEMENT DETROIT: THE REBRAND

As the years went on, the rebrand began. DEMF was now Movement Detroit, and it was steadily becoming the premiere spot for Techno lovers. With knowledge of artists like Carl Craig, The Belleville Three (Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May), and staples in the city like Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale, DJ Minx, and Norm Talley, you really couldn’t go wrong.

I was there when GRiZ took the Movement Stage before his star started to descend to new heights. I was also present when Snoop Dogg presented as DJ Snoopadelic. Over the years, acts like Virgil Abloh (RIP), Disclosure, and RZA of Wu-Tang Clan joined the legacy players, expanding the reach of the festival overall.

 

COVID-19 AND CANNA-INCLUSION

2019 garnered an amazing event, even with the evacuation and massive rain downpour. Little did we know it would be the last time we’d tap our toes in Hart Plaza for a few. In 2020, COVID-19 reared its ugly head, and we missed out on 2 full years of Movement Detroit. Walking around the property in 2020 during Movement Weekend, you saw people sitting and hanging out at Hart Plaza. I guess we all felt the need to make the pilgrimage like we were birds going south for the winter.

Fast forward to 2022, and we’re back, along with some very different sponsors. Brands like JARS Cannabis, Ooze, WeedMaps, and more became part of the event. While they aren’t permitted to sell actual THC products on the property, having them included, sponsoring stages, and having the JARS Campus on-site, along with activations with Ooze x Sheefy McFly, the tide began to change for the normalcy of Cannabis inclusion in large-scale Michigan events.

2023 AND BEYOND

This year is about to be killer. The lineup is stacked with artists like Skrillex, Basement Jaxx, Carl Craig, Mark Farina, Charlotte de Witte, Caribou, Green Velvet, Bonobo, Underworld, and many more. For the Hip-Hop heads, performances from Three 6 Mafia and Kash Doll will be on deck at the Waterfront Stage Presented By JARS.

Check out these mobile-friendly schedules and save them to your phone just in case you have phone/internet struggles:

 

MOVEMENT PICTURES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Check out the gallery here, all photographed from the years 2009 to 2022 by Ami Nicole ACRONYM.

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ACRONYM ZINE strives to bring you the newest in Music, Politics, Pop Culture, and more by hunting down stories that matter most to you and those around you. Follow our ZINE pages on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date on new stories!