There are few cities that can lay claim to feeling, an idea, and a community as their identity like Chicago. House music remains the city’s gift to the music world, a sound that has shifted shape and style as it travels, relinquishing boundaries and connecting fans. Such stands as the ethos of ARC Music Festival, a new immersive dance music event set to gather a global audience Labor Day Weekend 2021 at Chicago’s Union Park.
From the basement clubs of Europe, to the beaches of Ibiza and Tulum, to iconic festival stages around the world, each setting has had its own lasting impact on the sounds born from the warehouses of the midwest. ARC will act as the energizing force by which electronic music’s vast scenes and tribes may converge for an immersive and distinctly Chicago experience, representing the home of house music which has ironically yet to be represented on the global festival circuit.
The lineup will welcome one of dance music’s most celebrated stars Eric Prydz, as he takes over the city with all three of his renowned projects, making ARC the first event to host all three of his alias’ in a single weekend.
Attendees will also be treated to festival sets from Eric’s namesake identity, the US festival debut of Cirez D alongside Drumcode legend Adam Beyer, as well as his progressive house alias Pryda for a closing party at RADIUS available for purchase by festival-goers only.
Prydz‘s live shows, which have featured numerous iterations under the EPIC banner, have become some of the most respected and admired in music, breaking technical boundaries and wowing fans and the industry alike.
The debut festival also welcomes modern house music icons FISHER, Patrick Topping, Seth Troxler, Hot Since 82, Camelphat, Meduza, Will Clarke, Mason Maynard, and a special club set by Bob Moses, alongside the city’s own heroes Derrick Carter, Gene Farris, DJ Pierre, DJ Heather, and Hiroko Yamamura.
The international techno scene will be represented by Deborah de Luca, Luciano, and Nicole Moudaber while ZHU brings his renowned multi-genre live performances to center stage in Chicago. It is this diverse programming that will come to illustrate the ARC curation, bridging genres and acting as the connective tissue between the scene’s contemporary innovators and the city’s founding members of dance.
Renowned Spanish party outfit elrow will make its North American multi-day festival stage takeover debut at the inaugural edition of ARC, bringing its renowned psychedelic production and outrageous surprises to Union Park in full force. elrow‘s signature stage design, performers and hijinx have made it one of the most celebrated brands in the world, touching down for bespoke events annually in Barcelona, Ibiza, New York, London, Dubai, Miami, Las Vegas, Sydney and many more key markets.
ARC will extend far beyond the music, creating a cutting-edge experience that mirrors the culture and artistry of its host city. Attendees can expect curated production elements and art to guide them between each of three immersive stage environments.
The event will also act as a showcase of Chicago’s culinary prowess, offering an elevated and distinctly local event. These efforts will be led by the newly formed Auris Presents and Loud Crowd teams who bring collective decades of professionalism from their independent endeavors at Paradigm Presents, BAM Creates, and more. ARC fans will also be treated to intimate after parties across Auris and ARC partner venues RADIUS and PRYSM, with others to be announced.
It is with brighter days ahead that ARC charts a path forward for dance music’s diverse creeds, offering a much needed flagship for Chicago and a new marquee date on the international festival calendar.
Attendees can sign-up for the exclusive pre-sale immediately at ARCmusicfestival.com. General tickets will be on-sale April 15th with payment plans and travel packages coming soon.
