Returning to Chicago’s Union Park This Labor Day Weekend
August 29 – August 31

Chicago’s birthplace-of-house-music legacy continues as the celebrated ARC Music Festival prepares for its fifth anniversary celebration this Labor Day Weekend, August 29-31, at Union Park. The 2025 edition promises the most diverse and ambitious electronic music gathering yet, blending pioneering legends with emerging innovators in a showcase that honors the past while embracing the future.

A Milestone Celebration with Unprecedented Performances

Marking the festival’s five-year milestone, Eric Prydz will deliver his rare three-persona performance featuring Eric Prydz, Pryda, and Cirez D—only the second time this triple-threat showcase has occurred since ARC’s inaugural edition. The star-studded lineup continues with genre-defying producer Jamie xx, homegrown superstar John Summit, techno sensation Amelie Lens, electronic music veteran Richie Hawtin, and crowd-pleaser FISHER headlining across the weekend.

Groundbreaking Back-to-Back Sets Define the Experience

What truly sets ARC apart is its curation of exceptional back-to-back performances that bridge geographical divides and generational gaps. This year’s collaborations include a historic Chicago-Detroit alliance with Cajmere B2B Carl Craig, an electrifying pairing of Green Velvet B2B Skepta Más Tiempo, and the debut collaboration of Felix da Housecat B2B Mike Dunn.

Chicago champions Honey Dijon and Derrick Carter will unite for a hometown celebration, while underground forces Boys Noize B2B VTSS and techno titans Adam Beyer B2B Layton Giordani promise to deliver unforgettable sets. The cross-generational pairing of HAAi B2B Hiroko Yamamura—whose 2023 festival-closing Area 909 set remains legendary—highlights ARC’s commitment to merging established and emerging talents.

Breaking New Ground in North American Electronic Music

As a barometer for electronic music trends, ARC 2025 introduces several festival firsts: UK garage makes its presence known with Skream B2B Hamdi delivering a special UKG set, while Sub Focus brings drum & bass to ARC for the first time. The lineup also features the high-BPM stylings of Interplanetary Criminal B2B Malugi and the influential underground curators Eris Drew B2B Octo Octa, who have been instrumental in spreading Chicago’s rich musical heritage worldwide.

A Global House and Techno Convergence

Modern house music enthusiasts will revel in performances from Duck Sauce (the collaborative project of A-Trak and Armand van Helden), Chilean-Swiss icon Luciano, Knee Deep In Sound founder Hot Since 82, and Life and Death label head DJ Tennis. The international scope extends with appearances from BLOND:ISH, Loco Dice, Claude VonStroke, Adriatique, and Ki/Ki.

Rising stars adding fresh energy include Ireland’s KETTAMA, South Africa’s DESIREE, Smiile founder Chloe Caillet, BBC Radio’s Arielle Free, sibling duo TINZO + JOJO, Shermanology, and breakout artist it’s murph.

Techno’s Powerful Presence

The harder edge of electronic music takes center stage with performances from MOOD Records founder Nicole Moudaber, Bristol-born Eli Brown, Berlin-based Alignment, UK rising star Effy, and dynamic selector Supergloss, ensuring the techno contingent experiences the full spectrum of the genre’s evolution.

Honoring Chicago’s Rich Musical Heritage

True to its roots, ARC pays homage to the Midwest’s foundational electronic music scene with performances from DJ Sneak B2B DJ Heather, father-daughter duo Floorplan, and HiTech—whose electrifying fusion of juke, footwork, and techno represents Chicago’s continuing sonic innovation.

An Immersive Multi-Stage Experience

The festival’s four distinctive environments provide the perfect backdrop for this sonic journey: the industrial Grid stage, the interactive and psychedelic elrow stage (imported from Spain) with its iconic performers, the deeper sounds of the Expansions stage, and Area 909—a raw, high-energy tribute to house and techno’s roots.

The Party Continues After Dark

Led by Chicago’s premier event producers Auris Presents, ARC extends beyond the festival with its legendary ARC After Dark series. Running for five nights from Thursday through Monday, these exclusive afterparties—available only to festival pass holders—feature artist aliases, special collaborations, and label takeovers across the city.

The series kicks off Thursday, August 28th, with an exclusive PRYDA opening party. Last year’s After Dark program spanned 13 venues, 30 parties, and 80 artists, creating an electronic music takeover of Chicago that honors the city’s status as house music’s spiritual home.

Five Years of Unforgettable Moments

Since its inception, ARC has created countless memorable experiences—from Eric Prydz’s inaugural three-persona performance to Carl Cox and Green Velvet’s earth-shaking 2024 B2B set at the Expansions stage to Hiroko Yamamura’s journey through global underground sounds during her 2023 Area 909 closing set.

These multi-generational, genre-defying triumphs have established ARC as more than just a festival—it’s a window into the past, present, and future of a sound and lifestyle that has traveled from Chicago to captivate the world.

General ticket sales start on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 12pm CT.  Mastercard consumer credit cardholders have special access to presale tickets at ARC Music Festival.

Mastercard Presale starts Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 10am CT.  Check out priceless.com/arcmusicfestival for details.

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By: Christine Nguyen
Title: Chicago’s Premier Electronic Showcase Returns: ARC Festival Unveils Spectacular 2025 Lineup
Sourced From: edmlife.com/chicagos-premier-electronic-showcase-returns-arc-festival-unveils-spectacular-2025-lineup/
Published Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:27:07 +0000

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