The September 23rd gathering in Glasgow features performances by DJ Boring, FJAAK, Eclair Fifi, High Hoops, Bake and Junior. Both the Belfast and Dublin events take place the following night. Billed for the former are Mella Dee, Holly Lester, Inside Moves, and Ricky Chong. The lineup for the latter includes Joy Orbison, DART and Siofra.

AVA Connections’ organizers tout the events as “community-led parties” in “three of our favorite places.” They intend to showcase “international talent, vital local artists, and cutting-edge venues pushing our scene forward.”

Sarah McBriar launched AVA after finding inspiration during a visit to longtime Somerset, England gathering Glastonbury Festival. Following the the inaugural 2014 event, it grew to a weekend-long gathering that also serves as a music industry conference. Previous editions of the festival have billed the likes of Bicep, Ejeca, Floorplan, Helena Hauff, Rebekah and Honey Dijon.

Additional headliners have yet to be announced for the Glasgow event, according to a flyer. Purchase tickets and find additional information on the AVA Festival website.

The inaugural September 10th event will be headlined by Hercules and Love Affair, the dance music project of Andy Butler. It will reportedly be their first set in London since 2018. Also on the bill are Roi Perez, Hannah Holland, Josh Caffe, Dan Beaumont, Harry Gay, and Gin & Mica. Music will range from techno to house and electro to UK funky.

 

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The team behind MILK is the same that helped introduce Little Gay Brother, Chapter 10, Body Movements, Dalston Superstore, Feel It, and Dance Tunnel.

HERE is reportedly the biggest event space built in Central London since 1940. It’s spread across four floors, one of which boasts a floor-to-ceiling 16k screen, and is located underneath London’s historic Denmark Street.

“From a venue standpoint, this is the most exciting development that has happened to London’s music, arts and culture scene in a very long time,” said HERE Artistic Director Leo Green.

Find tickets and additional information in the debut edition of MILK via DICE.fm.

Kicking off with an exclusive opening event on June 30th, Kappa Futur’s ninth edition will be spread across four stages. In addition to the daytime festival, a string of five different after parties has been announced.

Situated at Audiodrome and Azimut Club, SKREAM, Berghain resident Boris Dolinski, and DJ WADE, amongst others, will guide guests through the after hours gatherings. Each event runs from 11:00 PM until 5:00 AM the following day. Full set times are accessible through the official Kappa Futur app.

2020 tickets will roll over to 2022, but weekend passes only include Saturday, July 2nd and Sunday, July 3rd. To attend Friday, holders of said passes must buy an additional ticket.

The gates open at midday and the festival ends at midnight. Guests will receive an RFID-based wristband for cashless purchases on the festival grounds.

Born in 2008, FuturFestival was a celebratory effort for the 100th anniversary of the Italian Futurism movement. Resulting in “Italy’s most appreciated New Year’s Eve party,” the event gathered over 7,000 people at Oval Lingotto in Turin. In 2012, the project evolved into a daytime summer festival under the name Kappa FuturFestival.

Kappa Futur is considered one of Europe’s top five festivals and was the first Italian format to introduce cashless payment. In 2019, it was awarded “Best International Festival” at the DJ Awards.

For more information, visit the official Kappa FuturFestival website.

What factors have made Movement a success since its 2000 incarnation as Detroit Electronic Music Festival still remain, to be sure. Hart Plaza seems to have been built for the express purpose of hosting a six-stage music gathering, wedged between iconic skyscrapers on one side and the Detroit River on the other. Paired with the promoter’s longstanding penchant for emphasizing techno while still allowing room for adjacent styles, the event promised a homecoming of sorts for discerning dance music enthusiasts.

Detroit electronic music event brand Paxahau could have executed a successful festival simply by repeating what’s worked in previous years. Instead, they found a number of ways to raise the bar.

The placement of up-and-coming Detroit artists on this year’s bill stood out as a notable departure. The celebrated return of the Detroit Stage provided a platform for deserving locals like Henry Brooks, Rebecca Goldberg, and Deon Jamar. A number of Motor City mainstays even performed on the main Movement Stage; Norm Talley, Ash Lauryn, and Huey Mnemonic each graced the sun-soaked terrace with distinctive permutations of the melodic yet melancholic style of techno from which worldwide offshoots of the genre originally grew. Regarding the techno originators themselves, first and second-wave Detroit techno forefathers like Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins, and Carl Craig also made their essential appearances at this year’s festival.

The curation of international talent reflected just as much intention. At any given time a reveler could bounce between the stages encircling the Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain and generally take in a significantly different sound from each one. From 2ManyDJs at the Waterfront Stage to Octo Octa at the Pyramid Stage to Will Clarke on the Star Gate Stage, the weekend encapsulated a wide cross section of the house and techno spectrum.

Even the programming of headline sets showed a great deal of deliberation on Paxahau’s part. On Sunday, more casual music fans could catch a closing set by Adam Beyer, the Swedish DJ and producer behind the world’s most commercially successful techno record label, Drumcode. On Monday, however, the diehard fans who took extra time off enjoyed a spectacular showing by Detroit techno philosopher king Jeff Mills. Starting off simply and gradually blossoming into a dynamically layered soundscape, his set combined DJing with live elements to yield a sophisticated finale befitting the Techno City’s landmark celebration.

The most notable additions to the 2022 installment of Movement Music Festival were arguably improvements to an area virtually hidden from plain view. The expanded presence of the Underground Stage arguably stands out as the organizers’ most symbolic effort of the event.

Previously, the stage occupied one closed-off end of the long, literally underground corridor below the fountain. This year saw the production team place the DJ booth and sound system along the length of the expanse instead. Colorful LED animations flickered up and down the support pillars interspersed across the dance floor, creating an immersive environment inhabited by a mass of writhing bodies that seemed to never dissipate over the course of each day.

The artists billed for the Underground Stage reflected recent trends towards harder, faster techno in the genre’s active undercurrent. Anfisa Letyago delivered one of her fluid yet rapidly shifting DJ sets, and artists like Paula Temple, Dax J and Blawan ignited the dance floor with corrosive textures and unrelenting rhythms. DJ Stingray broke up the repetition with hard-hitting yet danceable electro, and Adam X accomplished as much with his industrial-leaning style of techno. By and large, fans of the most challenging electronic music found a welcome refuge within the concrete confines of the Underground Stage.

The influx of Movement attendees also gave Detroit nightlife its usual injection of activity. Leland City Club hosted some of the most memorable gatherings. Among them was Intellephunk‘s Movement pre-party, Meta Ta Physika, headlined by Noncompliant, Dustin Zahn and Function, as well as Observe Scene, an after party that billed the likes of Nørbak, Insolate and Cell Injection (Drumcell and Truncate). Queer techno had a home at Club Toilet, a lively showing at Menjo‘s showcasing artists like Ariel Zetina, Colored Craig, and Dee Digs. Capping off the weekend early Tuesday morning was Los Angeles promoter Dirty Epic‘s Anthology Detroit after party at Leland headlined by DVS1, Oscar Mulero, and Answer Code Request.

Movement Music Festival 2022 of course had its misses. Second-wave Detroit techno icon Richie Hawtin closed out the Movement Stage with a predictably sloppy set on the first night, selecting tasteful music but taking a great deal of risks that didn’t pay off. Brainfeeder boss Flying Lotus, who replaced Nina Kraviz on the same stage following her controversy with Nastia, preceded Mills on the final day. During his completely disjointed performance, he could be heard asking the audience what they wanted him to play.

By and large, however, this year’s installment of the event demonstrated that Paxahau spent their off time during the COVID-19 pandemic rethinking, reevaluating, and placing greater emphasis on what matters to their community. It served as a case study proving that there’s room for authenticity in the curation of large festivals — one that will hopefully ripple out and inspire other organizers. From giving techno’s elder statesmen their due to nurturing its next generation, Movement 2022 earned unquestionably high marks.

Longtime participants in the festival largely agree. “I have to say, this is one of the best weekends I’ve had in a long time, and I think we all needed it,” said Brooklyn DJ Heather Heart (real name Heather Lotruglio) in conversation with Selector. One of New York City’s first techno artists alongside Adam X and his brother, Frankie Bones, she initially performed at Detroit Electronic Music Festival in 2002. She has returned a handful of times both as a performer and spectator.

“This is my favorite time, actually,” Lotruglio continued. “I feel like people are so ready, and we’re all missing community. The unity has been very apparent.”

“I think this year was different than the years prior because Movement hadn’t happened in three years due to the pandemic, so there was a lot of pent-up energy being released, along with joy and excitement that we were all once again able to gather at Hart Plaza for ‘Techno Christmas,'” said Henry Brooks, who performed at the festival for the first time. “I also think it was different this year as there were a lot more local artists on the bill than in the years prior.”

“After two years off due to the pandemic, it was more thrilling than ever to welcome the global dance music community back to our hometown, the birthplace of techno music,” said Rebecca Goldberg. “For me, having the opportunity to represent the Detroit-based artists on the lineup by debuting a new live techno set was an extra special opportunity.”

She continued: “Movement is a different kind of festival where old and new friends, family and chosen-family gather together in celebration for the entire weekend. Though the experience is always positive, for me 2022 felt uniquely uplifting and welcoming for artists and fans alike.”

Movement endured three tumultuous years as Detroit Electronic Music Festival from 2000-2002. The debut event was produced by Pop Culture Media and predominantly billed Detroit techno artists like Stacey Pullen, Eddie Fowlkes, and Kenny Larkin. At different times, Carl Craig and Derrick May each served as artistic director — the latter of whom was notably absent from this year’s festivities following allegations of sexual assault that surfaced in 2020.

2003 marked the first edition of the festival billed as Movement and coproduced by Kevin Saunderson. Amid continued financial setbacks, it briefly rebranded as Fuse-In Detroit in 2005 — the first edition in which successful talks with city officials allowed organizers to charge for admission to Hart Plaza. In 2006, however, Saunderson stepped down from his position and Paxahau, which initially launched in 1993 as a webcast service, assumed full control of the event.

Movement may have found its path to viability under Paxahau, but some might argue it came at a cost. During the EDM explosion of the past decade, more commercially accessible acts like Rezz, Kill The Noise, and Mija gained more presence on its lineups.

The festival was never billed as a strictly house and techno event, to be sure, and the 2022 event was not devoid of EDM. Bass music artist GRiZ performed at the Waterfront Stage, and OWSLA boss Skrillex would have delivered a set had he not canceled (ostensibly in favor of working on upcoming albums).

For the most part, though, Movement’s curatorial direction in 2022 signals what certainly appears to be an intentional return to the authentic roots of the event. What remains to be seen is whether its organizers stay the course and if setbacks reminiscent of the early years befall them along the way. Some amount of responsibility also falls on the fans themselves: was this year’s turnout an anomaly spurred by a post-COVID yearning for connection, or will music lovers continue to show support in the face of climbing prices and diminished novelty?

For the time being, at least, the underground appears alive and well if Movement Music Festival 2022 served as any indicator. One can only hope that the landmark gathering maintains its corrected course in the years to come.

This article has been amended to include quotes from Henry Brooks and Rebecca Goldberg.

The festival is scheduled to take place June 1st-5th, 20 minutes south of Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon in the beachfront city Costa de Caparica. This marks the second edition of the event after its inaugural edition took place in the Moroccan city of Essaouira.

Festivities will take place across one main stage as well as a beach party featuring two stages. Attendees will have access to all of the events as well as art exhibitions, wellness gatherings, yoga classes, surf lessons, conferences, talks and food. Event organizers describe it as a “Boutique electronic music festival inspired by the Atlantic vibes” with a goal of “connecting people from all around the world.”

Included in the lineup are influential Chicago deep house producer Chez Damier, Supplemental Facts label boss Guy Gerber, American house and disco artist Maurice Fulton, as well as 35 other producers who are scheduled to play throughout the five-day festival.

At the time of writing, second release tickets are currently available at €145. After that, tickets can be purchased at the door. There are currently no COVID-19 restrictions for outdoor gatherings.

Those interested in finding out more about the event can do so on the MOGA Caparica website.

The event will place in the airport of the Bavarian town of Memmingen. Formerly a military base, the space holds numerous abandoned aircraft hangars as well as open plains and forests. Six stages are set up in these areas, with each one hosting a wide variety of techno, house, deep house, psytrance, and hard techno artists, among other genres.

The five-day festival is set to take place from June 2nd-6th with globally touring DJs set to play shows. Artists on the lineup include Richie Hawtin, Sven Väth, and Carl Cox.

Ikarus quickly gained popularity after debuting in 2015. In 2018, attendance reached 35,000. This year’s lineup marks the festival’s largest since its inception, with 120 artists scheduled to play.

In 2020 and 2021, organizers were forced to cancel the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, however, the German government removed capacity restrictions for outdoor venues.

This turn of events in the German state of Bavaria marks a stark contrast from last year: in November of 2021, clubs across the state were forced to close.

Those interested in finding out more about the festival can do so on the Ikarus website.

The festival will take place in the Belgian city of Eupen September 1st-4th of this year. To “compensate” fans for the last two years, organizers added an extra day to the traditionally three-day event. Programming consists of public art installations, guest lectures, a dedicated radio program broadcast some of the performances. Artists such as Anthony Naples, Al Wootton, and DJ Python are scheduled to play sets across the city, including an abandoned shopping center.

In an announcement for the event, organizers wrote that the “2022 lineup is the biggest one we have yet managed to get together.” They also reminded attendees to arrive early so that they don’t miss shows in smaller venues.

Started in 2008 as a record label, Meakusma began operating as a festival in 2016. They touted the event as “celebrating the unclassifiable through music, installations, and lectures” and gained a niche following. In its second year, it was named one of the top ten best European festivals by The Guardian.

No COVID-19 precautions are listed on the website. As of this writing, the country of Belgium has no restrictions on attendees at indoor or outdoor events.

Anyone interested can find out more information on the Meakusma website.

The renowned techno festival will run from July 1st-3rd in the city of Torino, Italy. Specifically, festivities are scheduled to take place in the Parco Dora, an industrial area that was converted into a park. A VIP “Art & Techno” experience is available to attendees, granting them to access to private art tours and museum passes as well.

Globally touring artists such as Four Tet, Peggy Gou, Amelie Lens, and Carl Cox are all scheduled to play sets over the three-day festival.

No COVID-19 restrictions are listed on the festival website. In recent weeks, the Italian government began easing many of its it restrictions, including lifting outdoor mask mandates. Officials have also indicated that seating in restaurants and at sporting events/outdoor concerts will soon return to 100%.

Those interested in finding out more about the event can visit the Kappa FuturFestival website.

On bank holiday from August 27th to August 28th, the newly launched gathering will 3 take place at Boucher Road Playing Fields. Across multiple stages, guests will see international and national acts supported by light and AV installations.

Amongst others, Eric Prydz, Peggy Gou, FJAAK and DJ Seinfeld will perform at the gathering. Other notable billings include Special Request, Kettama and Mall Grab.

Speaking on the topic, EMERGE Music Festival Director Alan Simms stated: “The electronic music scene is one that has grown steadily in Belfast over the 30-odd years that I’ve been promoting in the city with my Shine brand, and it’s grown exponentially over the last few years.”

“We’re lucky to have some of the world’s biggest names in dance music on our inaugural lineup of EMERGE Music Festival, most of whom we’ve been working with since their very first club shows in the country,” he continued.

Organized by Belfast club brand Shine and Belsonic Festival, EMERGE is estimated to attract up to 20,000 revelers per day. That makes it one of Ireland’s biggest festivals alongside Belsonic.

For more information on lineup and ticketing please visit the EMERGE Music Festival website.

After delaying the initial launch in 2020, organizers VBX and Paradigm will unite for a self-proclaimed “one-day festival trip.” Across two stages, attendees will get to enjoy a mixture of local and international talent in techno, house, and electro.

Amongst others, Abstract Division, Herra B2B Andy Luff, Sweely\, and VBX resident Reiss are on the bill. As the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly stabilizes around the globe, the announcement gives hope for an eventful spring and summer.

“After two years of orbiting our favorite planet, we’re finally allowed to disembark,” Paradigm wrote in a Facebook post. “We’re so incredibly excited to share the full Planet Paradigm 2022 line-up with you all.”

Holders of 2020 tickets can attend Planet Paradigm. Separately, Paradigm Festival 2022 is scheduled from August 13th to 15th.

Located in Groningen, Netherlands, Paradigm “is a feeling. The feeling you get when people from all walks of life come together for music, art and creativity,” according to their website. In the past, the venue has hosted to a variety of gatherings within the electronic music spectrum.

VBX is a music collective and record label based in Amsterdam. After three packed years of hosting a string of events, residents Ferro and Reiss launched the VBX label. It was vinyl only at first, but they now release digital files through Bandcamp.

For more information on ticketing, lineup, and more please visit the Paradigm homepage.