This year the festival as such has grown considerably beyond the confines of Hart Plaza. In fact, there are so many other events that we face choosing “monumental” over merely “phenomenal.” One would need an IV of Red Bull, $10,000 and a fast car (ideally, a DeLorean with a working flux capacitor) in order to fully appreciate everything. Advice: Give up, dance happily, bring a valid photo ID and drink lots of water. Here’s a short list of events that you should either go to or kick yourself for missing:
Friday:
This is great!
· Derrick May and Joe Claussell at Platinum (477 Pelissier, Windsor): Soulful techno meets spiritual house at a nice place to grab a beer. A must-see for discriminating tourists. Open till 8 a.m.
· Motor (3515 Caniff, Hamtramck): House guru David Alverado surrounded by the bootylicious sounds of the Detroit Grand Pubahs, DJ Godfather, Heckle & Jeckle, Numbers and Names, Sean Deason, Andy Toth, Ectomorph and Brian Gillespie. For those who require the hottest and stankiest ghetto-tech beats to properly get their freak on.
Saturday:
There’s just too much going on.
· 7th City Records Party (SereNgeti Ballroom, 2957 Woodward, Detroit): DJs Daniel Bell, Shake, John Tejada, Titonton, Jeff Samuel, Soundhack and Substance, Brendan M. Gillen and live performances from Metro Area and Shawn Rudiman. 7th City has played an integral role in the techno experimentation of the past several years. Expanding the “intelligent” Detroit sound, 7th’s artists paint tracks with dark melodies that are both subtle and lush. One of the weekend’s highpoints.
· CKDK: St. Andrew’s (431 E. Congress, Detroit): No “C” this time as Carl Craig backed out to focus (er, …) on his label’s event. But Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May (four-turntable tag team), Kenny Larkin, D-Wynn and Kelvin Larkin promise to take you on a tour of Detroit’s past, present and future.
· Fuck the Syst3m (under the Ambassador Bridge, Detroit): Watch the sun rise like it’s 1995 with acid house legend Terry Mullan, Magda and Derrick Plaslaiko (tag team), Colette, Disco D and more.
Sunday:
What the hell are we gonna do!?
· Planet E 10-Year Anniversary (1703 Cass at Bagley, Detroit): Carl Craig, Mike Clark, Kirk Degiorgio, Laurent Garnier, Gilbr’, Hannah, Ibex, Orin Walters, Recloose and a secret guest performance. A huge event for an even larger fan base, this party will mark a decade of releasing one of the most consistent and eclectic catalogues in electronic music while maintaining a serious commitment to Detroit. Pure class.
· Treatment at One X (2575 Michigan Ave., Detroit): Adam Beyer and Marco Carola (tag team), Ben Sims, Suburban Knight, Funk D’Void, Christian Smith, Jay Denham, Punisher, Cosmic Spore, a special live “telepathic” guest and several more combine forces for this megarave. The space leaves something to be desired, but its A-list DJ roster makes it the event for connoisseurs of world-class pounding techno.
· Eyes Only: DETROIT (Liberal Arts Gallery, 3361 Gratiot, Detroit – one block north of Mack): Rare live sets by Dopplereffekt, Ultradyne, Tangible and Shadowpusher, with Sonic Groove’s Adam X and Heather Hart, plus more on the decks. A cool and unique vibe from eerie electrofunk to hard house and techno.
· Sound Signature, Trackmode Recordings Party at detroit contemporary (5141 Rosa Parks, Detroit): Larry Heard, Kenny Dixon Jr. (aka Moodymann), Theo Parrish and more push the deepest of soulful house through your eardrums until you feel the bass as your heartbeat.
Monday:
…must … keep … dancing …
· The Works (1846 Michigan Ave. at Rosa Parks, Detroit): Kevin Saunderson, Gene Farris, D-Wynn, Heath Brunner, Herdest Cummings and a special guest revive your withering body with a skillful jolt of smooth techno and infectious house. Even if you can only nod your head at this point, it’s worth your time to try.
For your up-to-the-minute DEMF afterparty guide, visit whatshappening.metrotimes.com.
Check out our other exclusive features on the Focus://Detroit.Electronic.Music.Festival/2001:
Pitch'd
Wired and juiced
Electric heaven
Detroit and the dance
