Once a year, on the Friday before the Movement Festival opens, Bang Tech 12 gets together and celebrates with a free dance party.
This year at Bookies Bar & Grille, the tradition continues with four rooms of sound (including a rooftop patio), over 40 performers from around the globe (just show up to find out who is playing) at for an event that starts at 3 p.m. and runs until 2 a.m.
May 24 at
Bookies 2208 Cass Ave., downtown Detroit.
This party, made up of homegrown talent, should be one of Movement weekend's best. It's the Underground Spark event Friday evening at 6 p.m.
What is Spark you ask?
It's a web-based hub for news and information about current and upcoming releases from Detroit-based independent electronic music labels, producers, and artists.
Who's performing Friday? Gerald Mitchell (Los Hermanos), Mike Grant (Moods & Grooves), Josh Adams (Exchange Bureau Music) and Pirahnahead (Whasdat Music).
On Friday night, begin Movement festival weekend off with live electronic music performances and Detroit DJs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD).
Who's playing?
Chromatic Jackie is a collaboration between a visual artist, a dancer, and a musician. Visual artist Dana Bell choreographs movements with CGI (computer graphics interface) software and pairs it with sound fragments provided by Sam Consiglio (formerly of Detroit's Adult. and Tamion 12 Inch).
James Marlon Magas has been creating unconventional music since 1992, with avant rock bands Couch and Lake of Dracula, and since 1999 as the solo electronic artist Magas. In the late ’90s, Magas became very interested in electronic dance music and set out to create his own. Humble beginnings with an MC-505 Groovebox attracted the attention of Adult., who gave Magas a crash course in analog production, as well as releasing his 'Bad Blood' and 'Friends Forever' on their Ersatz Audio imprint.
DJs from Macho City and Disco/Secret play music all night. $5. MOCAD is 4454 Woodward Ave., in Midtown.
We're beginning to get used to this in all the right ways: another Intimate evening with Detroit techno titan Carl Craig at MotorCity Wine.
This is the third festival weekend appearance by the legendary producer and DJ at MCW. This year, Craig is making this a benefit for the Detroit Institute of Arts.
It's $10 before midnight, more after (if you can get in). MCW is a small venue. Space is limited. C2 plays a four-hour set, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Maybe one of the most anticipated afterparties this weekend should be this one, 'Ghost in the Sound,' featuring Echospace, a duo made up of Port Huron's Rod Modell (a.k.a. Deepchord) and Chicago producer Stephen Hitchell (SoulTek). Echospace will be performing a live, danceable soundtrack to their film,
Silent World. Which will be screened as well.
Also performing: JPLS, who has collaborated with Richie Hawtin, Marc Houle, Dubfire, Loco Dice, Voodeux, Ambivalent & Len Faki and others. JPLS also performs live, as does Detroit native Terrence Dixon's Population One project. Both rare local appearances. Also live: Steve Stoll, Woody McBride and Flashbulb, and DJ set by Detroit's Nospectacle with integrated video.
At 4264 Grand River, Sunday May 26, 9 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Gnarly, grumpy, nasty but melodic punk rockers since 1974, the Stranglers have been active (with a few years off for bad behavior, here and there) until the present day. The band has close to 20 LPs to its credit and a few hit singles in England. Who remembers 'Get a Grip on Yourself,' 'Peaches,' and 'London Lady?' Well, yes, we do.
Get your tickets now for this rare appearance, also featuring Mike Marlin and Detroit's Amy Gore. At the Magic Stick (4140 Woodward Ave., Midtown), May 30. 8 p.m.