Introduction to ARC Music Festival
CHICAGO (WGN) — For the fifth year in a row, the Arc Music Festival is returning to the birthplace of house music right here in the Windy City. Arc Music Festival will take place Aug. 29-31 in Chicago’s Union Park and feature at least 93 different house music performers and artists.
Lineup Announcement
Here’s a list, in alphabetical order, of everyone set to perform:
- Adam Beyer
- Adriatique
- Ahadadream
- Arielle Free
- ATRIP
- AYYBO
- Bastian Bux
- BLACKCLUB
- BLOND:ISH
- Boys Noize
- Cajmere
- Carl Craig
- Chloé Caillet
- Cirez D
- Classmatic
- Claude VonStroke
- Derrick Carter
- DESIREE
- Duck Sauce
- Effy
- Eli Brown
- Eric Prydz
- Eris Drew
- Felix da Housecat
- FISHER
- Floorplan
- Gene Farris
- GENESI
- Goosey
- Green Velvet
- HAAi
- Hamdi
- DJ Heather
- HHUNTER
- Hiroko Yamamura
- HiTech
- Honey Dijon
- HOTPRETTY
- Hot Since 82
- HVNLEE
- Ilario Alicante
- Interplanetary Criminal
- it’s murph
- Jamie xx
- John Summit
- Josh Baker
- Kettama
- Kirk
- KIRI/KI
- Kryptogram
- DJ Lady D
- Layton Giordani
- Loco Dice
- Lori Branch
- Luciano
- Luke Alessi
- Luke Dean
- Malugi
- Matisa
- Max Dean
- Max Styler
- Mike Dunn
- Miguelle & Tons
- Nic Fanciulli
- Nicole Moudaber
- Nikki Nair
- NOTION
- Obskür
- Octo Octa
- Olive F
- Paco Osuna
- Prunk
- Ranger Trucco
- Richie Hawtin
- Riordan
- Rossi.
- Shermanology
- Skepta Más Tiempo
- Skream
- DJ Sneak
- Sosa
- Sub Focus
- Supergloss
- DJ Tennis
- Tini Gessler
- TINZO + JOJO
- Toman
- Villager
- VITIGRRL
- VTSS
Festival Overview
Festival organizers said this year’s lineup marks ARC’s most sonically diverse and ambitious curation yet, featuring pioneering legends, next-generation tastemakers, and groundbreaking B2B sets that embody the festival’s spirit of innovation and celebration. Over the last five years, ARC has become a central meeting point for electronic music’s most influential figures, emerging stars, and underground trailblazers, set against the backdrop of Chicago—the birthplace of house music.
Highlights and Performers
A bounty of rich musical moments has anchored the festival’s reputation over its first four editions. From Eric Prydz bringing all three of his celebrated aliases—Eric Prydz, Pryda, and Cirez D—to the event for its inaugural edition, to Carl Cox and Green Velvet’s earthshaking B2B at the Expansions stage in 2024, and Hiroko Yamamura’s journey into the global underground for the weekend closer at Area 909 in 2023, these multi-generational, scene-defying triumphs have made ARC more than just a festival—it’s a window into the past, present and future of sound and lifestyle that’s traveled from the Midwest to the world, festival organizers said.
Lineup Details
ARC 2025 delivers a lineup that spans multiple corners of the dance music spectrum, uniting icons with boundary-pushing artists. It’s only fitting that Eric Prydz returns his three alias festival showing of Eric Prydz, Pryda, and Cirez D for the second time ever in celebration of ARC’s five-year milestone. The lineup is further spearheaded by super producer Jamie xx, Chicago’s global house sensation John Summit, techno powerhouse Amelie Lens, pioneering veteran Richie Hawtin, and high-energy crowd favorite FISHER.
Back-to-Back Sets and Performances
A cornerstone of ARC’s curation is its showing of back-to-back sets, showcasing the festival’s core ethos of uniting the diverse global sounds of house music while honoring its Chicago roots. This year features a Chicago and Detroit meeting of the minds with Cajmere B2B Carl Craig, a pairing of legends with Green Velvet B2B Skepta Más Tiempo, and a first-time back-to-back of Felix da Housecat B2B Mike Dunn. Added highlights include Chicago torchbearers Honey Dijon B2B Derrick Carter, underground luminaries Boys Noize B2B VTSS, hard-hitting mainstays Adam Beyer B2B Layton Giordani, and a meeting of new and old school with HAAi B2B Hiroko Yamamura.
Additional Performers and Genres
In 2025, fans can also discover the US invasion of UK Garage represented by Skream B2B Hamdi (UKG Set), the festival’s first ever drum & bass set with Sub Focus making his ARC debut, the eclectic high BPM stylings of Interplanetary Criminal B2B Malugi, and underground purveyors Eris Drew B2B Octo Octa, who have been largely responsible for permeating underground spaces around the globe with Chicago’s rich sonic ethos. ARC will also spotlight some of the biggest names in modern house including the collaborative Duck Sauce project of A-Trak and Armand van Helden, Chilean-Swiss icon Luciano, Knee Deep In Sound founder Hot Since 82, Life and Death label head DJ Tennis, Canadian icon BLOND:ISH, Germany’s Loco Dice, Dirtybird founder Claude VonStroke, Swiss duo Adriatique, and Amsterdam tastemaker Ki/Ki.
Stages and Experience
Festival organizers said ARC’s four stages will be an immersive experience that includes the industrial Grid stage, the interactive and psychedelic atmosphere of Spain’s famed elrow with its iconic performers, the deeper sounds of the Expansions stage, and Area 909 – paying tribute to the roots of house and techno in a raw, high-energy setting.
ARC After Dark
ARC will also extend beyond the festival grounds with the return of their ARC After Dark series. Running for five nights from Thursday through Monday, these afterparties keep the energy alive with artist aliases, exclusive back-to-backs, and label takeovers—alongside surprise sets from both festival favorites and special guests starting with an exclusive opening party on Thursday, Aug. 28 with PRYDA.
Ticket Information
General ticket sales start on Friday, March 14, 2025, at noon CT. Mastercard Presale starts Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 10 a.m. CT. Check out priceless.com/arcmusicfestival for details.
Conclusion
The ARC Music Festival is set to return to Chicago for its fifth year, featuring a diverse lineup of performers and a unique immersive experience. With its rich history and commitment to showcasing the best of electronic music, ARC is an event not to be missed.
FAQs
Q: When and where will the ARC Music Festival take place?
A: The ARC Music Festival will take place Aug. 29-31 in Chicago’s Union Park.
Q: Who are some of the performers featured in the lineup?
A: The lineup includes Eric Prydz, Jamie xx, John Summit, Amelie Lens, Richie Hawtin, and FISHER, among many others.
Q: What types of music can fans expect to hear at the festival?
A: The festival will feature a diverse range of electronic music genres, including house, techno, and drum & bass.
Q: How can fans purchase tickets to the festival?
A: General ticket sales start on Friday, March 14, 2025, at noon CT, and Mastercard Presale starts Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 10 a.m. CT.
Q: What is ARC After Dark, and how can fans experience it?
A: ARC After Dark is a series of afterparties that will take place over five nights, featuring exclusive performances and sets from festival favorites and special guests. Fans can experience ARC After Dark by purchasing a festival pass.
