A look at the Chicago house artists performing at Arc Festival on Labor Day Weekend

ARC Music Festival’s stellar lineup features 20+ Chicago native house & techno artists including Green Velvet, Honey Dijon, Kaskade, Hiroko Yamamura, and more.

Chicago’s ARC Music Festival is approaching Labor Day Weekend, and year after year, they have demonstrated why they curate the best lineups. ARC is not just another festival for partygoers; it’s also a heartfelt tribute to Chicago’s deep-rooted legacy in house and techno music. Of the 70+ artists slated for the 4th edition of ARC, 21 are proud Chicago natives who infuse their hometown’s distinctive style into their music and DJ sets.

The hometown heroes of ARC Music Festival are a mix of original pioneers and newer talents who both bring their distinctive sounds and energies to the stage. Some of Chicago’s biggest names are on this list including Marshall Jefferson, Kaskade, Hiroko Yamamura, Gene Farris, Honey Dijon, Green Velvet, Mike Dunn, Honeyluv, J. Worra, among others. The list continues with extremely talented artists who bring their upbringing into their performances such as Mark Farina, Azzecca, Tres Mortimer, DJ Hyperactive, Terry Hunter, K’Alexi, VittiGrrl, Shaun J Wright, Lori Branch, Monty Kiddo, Hot Pretty, and Dunes of Dawn.

House music came to life in the early 1970s-1980s, originating in Chicago’s underground club scene. The genre incorporated a blend of disco, electronic, and funk ultimately creating a new groovy sound for dance floors. Pioneers like Frankie Knuckles led the way at The Warehouse, a nightclub that’s considered the birthplace of house music, where the genre gained quick traction.

Beyond its groovy beats, Chicago house music carries a powerful message of inclusivity and freedom. Songs like Marshall Jefferson’s “Move Your Body” became an anthem that captured the energy of the movement, ultimately laying the groundwork for what electronic dance music would become.

On top of festival performances, many of the local Chicago artists are showcasing their talents at ARC After Dark, the official pre and after-parties hosted by ARC Music Festival. The ARC After Dark parties will take place at various venues around the city of Chicago, spanning from Thursday night through Monday. Among the many performances, K’Alexi and Lori Branch will kick off the ARC celebration by opening for Ralphi Rosario at Smoke and Mirrors on Thursday night, while Gene Farris will wrap up the festivities on Monday with a closing set aboard a yacht cruise.

Supporting the Chicago artists on the ARC lineup in their hometown means the world to them, so be sure to catch their sets and join them at the pre and after-parties. For more information on set times and tickets, please head to the ARC website.

Featured Image Courtesy of BlazeJ Zalewski

About The Author

Neil Bayless

Hey everyone, I’m Neil! I first joined the dance community back in 2019 when my friend dragged me to Moonrise, my first-ever music festival, and I became hooked ever since. I like to dabble in all genres with my favorites being house, techno, and dubstep. Some of my favorite artists include Anyma, I Hate Models, Pawsa, John Summit, Massano, GRiZ, Excision, and too many others to name. Catch me on the dance floor somewhere in Brooklyn!

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