Movement Electronic Music Festival- Day 1 Recap

We stepped off of the plane into Detroit Metro Airport just before noon on Saturday and were set to embark upon a legendary weekend that we will not soon forget.  After a half hour drive, during which our shuttle driver schooled us on a bit of Detroit history, we arrived at our abode for the weekend, the Doubletree Downtown.  On a day that was supposed to be sunny and in the 80s, it began to rain.  Not just a light drizzle either, but what could be considered a torrential downpour. The weather at this point couldn’t even come close to hampering the excitement we were feeling.  We met up with the friends we were staying with and began to make preparations for our weekend as well as a few whiskey drinks.

As we prepared to make the relatively short walk over to the festival site at Hart Plaza, the weather began to clear.  The sun came out and subtly reassured us that we were in for not only a gorgeous day, but a beautiful weekend.  As a quick aside, despite what you’ve heard about Detroit, we found that the downtown area of the city is actually a really nice area filled with really friendly people.  We arrived at Hart Plaza, which sits on the waterfront of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. around 2 o’clock.  The first thing we noticed as we approached the gate,s was Detroit's monument to Joe Louis "Fist of A Champion" punching the air in the direction of Hart Plaza.  We got our bracelets and passed through the gates to find a giant fountain sitting in the heart of Hart.  After looking like overwhelmed, lost, first time DEMFers for a couple of minutes, we located the main stage just as Mark Farina hit the decks. To give you a little idea of the festival grounds, there were five stages total;  The bowl shaped amphitheater that was the Main Stage, the Underground Stage, the Redbull Music Academy Stage by the water, the Made in Detroit stage by the entrance, and the Beatport stage towards the rear of Hart Plaza.  The GM Renaissance Center, a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers overlooked the festival grounds.


After The Jump

DPC Does DEMF - Festival Preview

     This weekend, DPC will be heading to Detroit to experience one of the best electronic music festivals on the planet.  I am talking about Movement Electronic Music Festival, also known as Detroit Electronic Music Festival.  It is sure to be a weekend of whiskey fueled debauchery and dance parties.  To say we're excited would be an understatement.  The lineup this year is absolutely incredible, featuring some of the most renowned DJs and producers in the world.  Although Detroit is hailed as the birthplace of techno music, the festival features an eclectic mix of Techno, House, Disco, and even some Hip Hop.

After The Jump...

Greg Wilson Live At The Roundhouse in Sydney

I want to start off by mentioning that U Street Music Hall is celebrating its Second Birthday this week.  I am so thankful to have such an amazing venue near where I live that consistently books some of the greatest dance music acts in the world.  Their sound system isn't too shabby either...  Tonight Maceo Plex is performing with support from Catz and Dogz and Eats Everything.  Check it out if you are in the area, its sure to be a great night of music.

Today we have a mix from Greg Wilson that was recorded live at the Roundhouse, University Of New South Wales, Sydney Australia on April 3 of this year.  If you are not familiar with Greg Wilson, well, shame on you.  He is a pioneer of dance music and undoubtedly one of the greatest DJs ever to walk the planet.  If I were to mention all of his accomplishments, this post would go on for days, but I will touch on a few that I found interesting.  Greg Wilson began his career in England when he was only 15 years old (he is now in his 50s).  In his earlier years he held residencies at legendary Manchester clubs Legends and The Hacienda (If you don't know about The Hacienda and the "Madchester" days I would highly recommend doing some research.)  He was also the first DJ to mix on live television in the United Kingdom and reportedly taught a young Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) how to scratch records.  In 1984, Greg Wilson retired from DJing to explore producing and other ventures.  He returned to DJing in 2003 with a new style but resumed his old habit of slaying dance floors.  In 2009 he hit the British airwaves on BBC's Radio 1 and laid down what is widely regarded one of the top ten Essential Mixes in the shows storied history. You can and should listen to it here: Greg Wilson Essential Mix.  To this day Greg Wilson does most of his remixing and mixing using tape that he has edited and a reel to reel.

Cover of Greg Wilson's 2005 Compilation Album "Credit to the Edit"

This mix is an hour long journey through several different genre's and era's of music.  It starts off with Kool and The Gang's 1974 hit "Jungle Boogie."  A few highlights of this mix for me were the incorporation of songs like "Slippery People," by the Talking Heads, "He's the Greatest Dancer" by Sister Sledge, and "Got to Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn.  It also has a variety of well placed samples that added a nice dimension.  This mix is a just one great example of Greg Wilson's magical mixing abilities.  Check his Soundcloud Page out for a treasure trove of mix tapes, live mixes and remixes.

ROUNDHOUSE SYDNEY 04.03.12 (greg wilson live mix) by gregwilson