Fuse-In: Detroit Electronic Music Festival Evolves

For those of you sticking around the D this holiday weekend, make sure not to miss Fuse-In, the three-day techno fest going on at Hart Plaza this Saturday through Monday.

Put on by Kevin Saunderson's Musiclogical - Saunderson's production company - and sponsored by the likes of Nokia, Metro Times, WDET, Jack Daniels, Molson, Verizon Wireless, and more, Fuse-In is set to offer the same heart-thumping beats and synthesizer melodies as past Memorial techno fests, with a few minor changes.

First, there is the obvious name change. The festival was initially known as the Detroit Electronic Music festival (DEMF), then Movement, and now has been changed to Fuse-In. This is because different companies have run the festival and changed its name when taking it over.

Second, the festival now requires attendees to purchase tickets, ranging from $10 for a one-day pass, to $75 for an all-weekend VIP pass. If you plan to attend the festival for a long period of time or for more than one day, I would just splurge for the $75 VIP; it comes with 4 drink tickets per day, as well as three meals a day, plus VIP stage rights, and access to the techno exhibit at Cobo Hall. If you plan to go budget, a three day no-frills pass is $25. Pre-sale tickets are available today until 5 pm for VIP and 6pm for all others. You can purchase tickets here through Fuse-In's online ticket seller. You can purchase tickets at select stages, but with the 2-3 million people expected to converge on the grounds of Hart Plaza this weekend, be prepared to stand in line.

Third, Fuse-In has expanded its musical genre to include a stage that will solely play hip-hop. Many hip-hop musicians have begun incorporating techno into their songs, and this outgrowth of techno has received a strong response from listeners. Mos Def will be the headliner at the hip-hop stage on Monday; the first two days of the hip-hop stage will include acts like ONEBELO and Slum Village.

Through these changes, though, one thing remains constant: Detroit's link to techno and the importance of celebrating it as it develops and evolves. For more information regarding the 120 acts on 4 stages in 3 days, see the Fuse-In website.