Movement festival rides weather delay to huge crowds

Thousands of dancing Movement attendees dealt with weather delays while Sunday pass holders were allowed free entry Monday at this year's annual techno fest.

Why it matters: The techno festival is no stranger to rain, but the storms over the weekend that resulted in an evacuation of Hart Plaza on Sunday meant some ticket holders skipped the festival for auxiliary events and day parties sponsored by major brands featuring well-known acts.

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The intrigue: Wind gusts up to 20 mph forced the festival to evacuate Hart Plaza for nearly four hours Sunday. Attendees returned around 10pm for a set by English singer and producer James Blake, who played an array of Detroit-inspired music.

• At another stage, actor Idris Elba and Detroit techno icon Kevin Saunderson closed the festival at Movement's Pyramid main stage near Atwater Street.

What happened: Sunday attendees who had purchased day passes were allowed back into the festival Monday due to the weather delay. With packed crowds at each stage late Monday evening, it seemed like many took advantage.

What they're saying: The annual festival serves as a homecoming for some, like Rob Deveraux and his wife, Dañella Devereaux. Deveraux has lived in Sunnyvalle, CA for more than two decades but grew up in Ann Arbor.

• "Daniella is the one who got me into techno; she loves it. This is my second Movement. I've gone to Pine Knob, Auburn Hills, all my life for shows and concerts, but this right here is like the carnival of music," Deveraux told Axios.

Michigan native Rob Deveraux and his wifeDañella Devereaux, who traveled from California to attend their second Movement festival together.

Between the lines: While visitors from Canada, Europe and South America attend the festival at Hart Plaza, local clubs, galleries and pop-ups activate for day parties and after events.

• Detroit-based ghettotech group HiTech gave high-energy performances, Saturday night at Paramita Sound and then Monday afternoon in the backyard of Southwest Detroit's El Club.
• Producer Black Noi$e and comedian Zack Fox headlined Monday's event at El Club while local artists performed inside.

El Club's Memorial Day party attracted hundreds of local creatives to Southwest Detroit for performances from local artists like this one from ghettotech group HiTech. Photo: Samuel Robinson/Axios