Just days before ARC Music Festival’s return to Chicago’s Union Park September 2-4, the festival has announced its official ARC Art installation partners alongside info on a production contest hosted by Gene Farris and official set times. We featured an article here at Fresh Music Freaks regarding who our picks for the weekend, so be sure to check that out here. With all of the stages and things to see, we are excited for the weekend to arrive!
Since its 2021 debut, ARC has prided itself on bringing a fully immersive festival experience to Chicago. This year, the event’s art programming has expanded tenfold, featuring a host of amazing larger than life art installations. Known for his work representing human form and emotion through brutalist metallic work, Michael Benitsy will bring his twenty-one foot, fire spouting mirrored steel figure, ‘Rise’, to ARC. Wood installation artist Chris Carnabuci continues these themes with his twenty-six foot ‘Mariposita’ (Little Butterfly), installation. Mariposita was originally created for exhibition at Burning Man 2019. Toy Studio will bring their signature multi-colored flare to the fold. Their ‘Circle of Light’ installation inspired by the full color spectrum and each’s interaction with the sun from dawn to dusk is a must see. Reared in Steel cap off the ARC Art programming with their iconic ‘Lions of Steel’ gothic figurines.
Fans had until end of August 31, to enter Gene Farris and ARC’s producer contest where artists could submit a track for the opportunity to win a spot on Gene’s Farris Wheel Records as well as two, three-day GA passes to ARC.
ARC has also released its official set times for the Labor Day weekend event, offering a first look at the musical voyage set to connect electronic music scenes from across the world to the mothership of House music, Chicago. Check out the ARC Music Festival website to chart your experience. At the festival, attendees can look forward to a group of back-to-back sets that will take place between Detroit legends Carl Craig and Seth Troxler, married couple Öona Dahl and DJ Three, UK favorites Skream and Eats Everything (one of our favorites), and Chicago House acts including Derrick Carter b2b Mark Farina, Gene Farris b2b Mike Dunn, and Hiroko Yamamura (aka Biobooster), b2b DJ Hyperactive.
Additionally, ARC After Dark Parties for the 2022 edition have also been announced with a group of rare b2b sets! Highlights include a Detroit Love party at Spybar with Carl Craig and Seth Troxler, Eric Prydz and Adam Beyer at RADIUS, Gorgon City and Azzecca at Cermak Hall, and a Relief x Dirtybird event with Green Velvet and Claude VonStroke at RADIUS. This includes a multi-national House affair with Ricardo Villalobos and Derrick Carter at Cermak Hall, Honey Dijon and DJ Heather showcasing Chicago femme royalty at Smartbar, and a Black Book Records event at Music Hall with Cloonee and MIANE.
