Arc Music Festival/Photo: yophotography
Arc is right around the corner, coming up over a Labor Day weekend sure to be rife with swaths of black-clothed, chic, sunglasses-wearing ravers.
This year’s festival lineup boasts major talents such as Underworld, Chris Stassy and Mochakk, to name just a few. Maybe, like me, staring at the long list of names makes your eyes swim and your head spin. We don’t all have the time to Google every single artist, but thankfully it’s my job.
Hosted in the city where house was born, any guide to Arc worth its salt has to highlight the local established and rising DJs gracing the lineup. House wouldn’t exist without the Black and LGBTQ+ communities in the underground scene back in the 1980s (credit where credit is due), and Chicago continues to churn out some serious electronic talent.
On Friday, we have Chicago DJ Frechette, Muffy “the beat slayer” and Virago opening the festival, as well as Chicago-based Dabura back-to-back with Anna Maria. These DJs all have different but killer sounds, ranging from groovy, entrancing vinyl-driven beats to industrial. Wear running shoes since they all play at the same time. I will be scurrying from stage to stage to catch them all, with a special focus on Muffy and Virago.
Saturday features so many Chicago artists, some of them absolute legends. The Blessed Madonna, though no longer fully based in Chicago, got her start here as a resident at Smartbar and will headline b2b with Lil’ Louis. Lil’ Louis is a pioneer in the Chicago house scene, part of the genre’s initial rise. He is a big deal, a major player in the cultural influence house wields today.
Arc Music Festival/Photo: blazejzalewski
The historic all-female Chicago DJ collective Super Jane, comprising Colette, DJ Heather, Dayhota and DJ Lady D, opens Saturday. Flores Negras, founder of Mictlan Productions, is a strong presence on the scene with her dark, industrial sound. DJ Hyperactive, another Chicagoan and one of Daft Punk’s “teachers,” follows Flores Negras’ set. Keep an eye out also for Monty Kiddo, Janesita, M3rch and Trés Mortimer. Checking out all of these artists, M3rch stands out as a tech house up-and-comer, so don’t miss his opening set Saturday.
On Sunday we have Banchan, Mike Dunn, Nick C and Rika B playing the first few sets. Mike Dunn is another veteran on the Chicago electronic music scene. From Englewood originally, Dunn has been producing and DJing for over twenty years, nurturing the creation of house in Chicago and beyond.
Arc Music Festival/Photo: blazejzalewski
Monday brings us another hefty dose of Chicago talent. Green Velvet and Honey Dijon both play, along with Derrick Carter. All are big names with major sway in electronic music coming out of Chicago; Green Velvet and Derrick Carter are staples in the European dance music world, while Honey Dijon is both an important name in the house music world today and in the New York underground club scene of the nineties. Green Velvet headlines b2b with Josh Baker. Techno royalty and Chicagoan Hiroko Yamamura will also headline, playing b2b with Boyz Noize in what will be an incredible mash-up of two techno big wigs. Madeline, Oogie b2b Phives, Kirk and Roobies4ever warm up the tables Monday followed by Chicago duos Hotpretty and Dunes of Dawn.
Arc’s lineup is jam-packed with fantastic music from open to close. So if you are waiting for your favorite headliner playing later in the day, be sure to go early to make the most of the festival and connect with the artists carrying on Chicago’s house legacy. Maybe you’ll discover a new favorite.
Arc Music Festival, at Union Park, 1501 West Randolph, September 4-7.
