De La Soul to Headline Free Detroit Festival

ByABC News
April 2, 2001, 1:34 PM

March 29 -- Following a staggeringly successful first year that brought between 1.1 million and 1.5 million people into downtown Detroit last Memorial Day weekend, the Detroit.Electronic.Music.Festival has announced another three days of acts for this year's edition, which will take place May 26-28 at the city's Hart Plaza with another lineup of stellar DJs, MCs and bands, as well as a new title sponsor.

Among this year's headliners at the world's largest free electronic music event will be Beastie Boys DJ Mixmaster Mike, De La Soul, Autechre, Laurent Garnier, LTJ Bukem, and Tortoise, along with Detroit techno legends Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, who will perform with his groundbreaking ensemble Inner City. More than 70 acts will perform on four stages during the festival, and some of the local artists will spend the weeks before the event touring local schools and community centers to talk to students about the music.

The Ford Motor Co. has taken over title sponsorship of the festival for its Focus brand, which has used Detroit techno in its ad campaign since last fall; this year's event has been rechristened the Focus:\\Detroit.Electronic.Music.Festival and will feature interactive automobile displays. Meanwhile, the festival's first year has been documented in a film, The Drive Home: The Story of the Detroit.Electronic.Music.Festival, which will begin screening in the spring.

Several hotels in the Detroit area will be offering special packages for those wishing to attend this year's festival. Information is available at www.electronicmusicfest.com.