Detroit musician Amp Fiddler honored at 2024 Movement Music Festival

Nearly four dozen acts played the first day of the annual Movement Music festival in Detroit on Saturday (May 25), but one who wasn't there was on his mind.

Tributes were paid throughout the day to Amp Fiddler, the electronic and funk luminary who died in December 2023 aged 65 from cancer.

Fiddler's credits as a performer, producer and writer included George Clinton, Prince, Fishbone, Maxwell, Corinne Bailey Rae, and others. He was an acknowledged influence on J Dilla and A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip and was working with several up-and-coming artists at the time of his death.

Saturday's tributes took place notably on the Movement's Pyramid Stage, where hometown hero Carl Craig and his Planet E Communications curated a day-long line-up with Britain's Defected Records. In between sets by Craig, Floorplan, Waajeed, DJ Holographic and more, Dames Brown, a trio of Detroit vocal house musicians, offered perhaps the most moving salute — fittingly, from the group's upcoming album, As I amwas the last work Fiddler produced.

“This show was very special,” said Teresa Marbury of the group Advertising sign afterward. “We want to send love and a vibrant spirit and celebrate this wonderful person we worked with. You could just feel the energy from [the crowd] and the love for him”.

Fellow Dame LaRae Starr added that Fiddler “was more than just a producer. He gave us books to read, music to listen to. He really wanted us to know the music while we were making it. It was a very special experience.”

With photos of Fiddler on the video screen, Dames Brown's set was packed with Fiddler material, including the single “Take Me As I Am” and a cover of D Train's disco hit “You're the One for Me” which Fiddler remade for the trio, as well as “Do It,” a collaboration with fellow Detroit electronica pioneer Eddie Foulkes that Dames Brown released via Defected last year.

Ladies' As I am The album is expected to be released later this year.

Fiddler was also featured as part of the 'Respect the Architects' exhibition presented in Movement's underground space, with a special multi-panel section dedicated to his life and career.

Movement's other headliners on Saturday included Ludacris, Solomun, Loco Dice and Speedy J. The festival runs through Monday at Detroit's Hart Plaza, with performances by Fatboy Slim, Richie Hawtin, James Blake and Goldie, who celebrates 30th anniversary of his label Metalheadz. . The event also features a pairing of Kevin Saunderson and Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actor Idris Elba.