We have already covered the majority of the lineup in our previous article. So what we would like to do with this bit is spend some time filling you in on can’t miss acts, provide you with some of our best tips and tricks, and deliver a further look into what makes this festival so special and what keeps us coming back year after year.
Can’t Miss Acts
Eric Prydz Brings the Trifecta Back To Union Park
For starters, the Trifecta (Eric Prydz, Pryda, and Cirez D). For the uninitiated Eric Prydz has a plethora of aliases but the two most acknowledged and highlighted are Pryda and Cirez D. The key here is that these sets will all be completely different from one another. If you’re looking to hear some of the “larger than life” sounding tracks (“Generate” as an example) be sure to catch the main Eric Prydz set. Is there an unreleased track of his that you have been chasing to hear? The Pryda ARC Pre Party set will be filled with tons of these (plus it’s at Radius, come on). If that’s not enough and you need a bit of old school sounding techno + darker progressive house, then Cirez D is your man. If you’re smart, you’ll be at all three. This is a rare opportunity that does not come around often. In fact, this is only the second time this has happened in North America (the first time was also at ARC Music Festival in 2021).
Amelie Lens Makes Her ARC Debut
For those searching for the harder and groovier sounds of the weekend, look no further than this set from Amelie Lens. The renowned Belgian techno DJ and producer is set to make her debut at the festival this year and we could not be more excited. Amelie has become a prominent figure in the global electronic music scene over the years, but she continues to build even more steam for herself. Coming off of her massive team up with ARC Alumnus Charlotte de Witte for a series of back-to-back (sold out) shows at Flanders Expo in Ghent, Belgium and her closing slot at Tomorrowland Winter this year are testaments to this. Her inclusion in the 2025 lineup underscores ARC’s commitment to showcasing top-tier international talent alongside local artists. If you have never had the opportunity to see her live do not miss this opportunity.
Adam Beyer Returns After A Year Off
The label boss of Drumcode Records has been on an absolute tear as of late with performances and announcements. His most recent performance at Ultra Music Festival was far and away one of the best of the weekend. On top of that, he has recently announced that his next album will be dropping this June. One thing about Adam Beyer is that he is always hungry and pushing things forward for the modern techno scene. He continues to deliver at the highest level and always brings a great set when he visits Chicago. As it stands at the moment he will be going back to back with label mate Layton Giordani which will make for a great time as they have previous history of delivering awesome sets together.
As always is the case with the ARC Music Festival, we could go on about “can’t miss” acts for the rest of our day. But there are other things to highlight so let’s drop a few more before focusing on highlighting elsewhere. Green Velvet, Eli Brown, BLOND:ISH, Jamie XX, Hot Since 82, and Max Styler are upper level acts that are worth going out of your way to see. The best thing though? That is just the top half of the festival. A weekend like this thrives with the names that are still leading the charge in the underground.
Under The Radar Acts & Performances
One of the best things about ARC Music Festival is stumbling upon lesser-known DJs and underground acts who absolutely blow you away. While the big names bring the hype, it’s the hidden gems tucked into side stages or early set times that often leave the biggest impression. With so much going on it is easy to overlook some of the acts we may not be familiar with, and that would have us missing out on a lot of what makes this festival so great to attend. There’s something special about dancing with a crowd that’s genuinely discovering an artist together, creating this electric, raw energy that feels totally unique. It’s like finding a secret that you know is going to explode soon—and you were there first. Here are a few names from this year’s lineup of where you can find that kind of energy and atmosphere.
- Chloé Caillet – Chloé has certainly been around for some time yet I still feel deserves a shout out here. Coming off of an awesome closing slot with Diynamic Music (Solomun, Four Tet, Mau P all b2b) at Ultra Music Festival has kicked this year off strong for her. Chloé does a wonderful job at delivering what feels like the “soul” of dance music and this set is certain to be a party.
- KI/KI – This name has been popping up more and more on lineups across the globe. Best known for her high energy acid and hypnotic techno filled sets, KI/KI is going to be one of the best sets from the weekend for sure. Her Boiler Room set is the perfect introduction to her sound.
- Genesi – If you’ve been consuming melodic tech house as of late, you have heard his sound. Collaborations with Meduza, Max Styler, and his work with many others have launched Genesi into the spotlight and this set is going to be hot.
- Ranger Trucco – It feels like every month Ranger Trucco has a hot new track out. His sound encapsulates a lot of what ARC is about with how catchy and house driven they are. If this performance is given the right setting and slot, expect this one to be talked about for awhile.
- Gene Farris b2b Tini Gessler – This combination is going to do some damage. Tini Gessler was our MVP in our review of ARC 2024 as she delivered three excellent sets over the weekend and Gene Farris was our favorite set on Sunday. We could not be more excited now that these two are running the floor together this year.
This is also a good time to shout out the Chicago Legends that keep the city alive all year round – Derrick Carter, Honey Dijon, Gene Farris, Felix Da House Cat, Green Velvet, and many more will be holding it down for their city this year across the various stages. A lot of these sets will feel like a family affair, as if you pay attention, you will be able to see other Chicago house artists hanging around the stage when their peers are playing. Moments like these help play into the community aspect that we love so much about this festival. Things like this matter as it provides another example of people uniting through house music which is what ARC is all about.
Tips And Tricks
- Transportation: Chicago has great options for public transportation that make getting to and from the festival a breeze. Using the CTA’s Green or Pink Line to Ashland Station is the best bet, as it stops just across the street from the venue. Uber can be reliable at times, but wait times can be an issue if trying to order once the festival ends and everybody is trying to head to after parties.
- ARC After Dark: ARC After Dark is extremely crucial to the total ARC weekend experience. With the festival concluding at 10 PM that leaves a lot of room for activities following. This is where ARC After Dark comes into play. Multiple venues in the city (Radius, Spybar, Soundbar, etc.) will have after parties hosted by some of the artists in town during ARC weekend. These parties are where you hear some of the absolute best work from the DJs in town. Be ready to purchase tickets for these as soon as they go live, as they tend to sell out quickly.
- Essential Items: Things like sunglasses, earplugs, gum, and your typical festival day/night essentials are all accepted and smart to bring in. This fest is pretty simple and you will not need all that much to get through your day as the vendors inside the grounds provide a lot. For those concerned with this, a look at the list on the website is a big help!
- Festival Navigation: We always recommend taking the first few hours or so inside the festival grounds to familiarize yourself with the layout. This includes walking from stage to stage, checking out where water and food stations are, etc. This will relieve a lot of the stress of knowing where to go once it starts to get dark outside and signs are harder to see. The good thing is that the way ARC dresses up Union Park is simple and clean to follow. The stages are laid out in a way that make sense so that it’s easy to plan your day around what artists you want to see.
- Visit Each Stage: Camping stages at festivals for your favorite artist can be fun to do. However, at a festival like ARC where there is so much good music no matter where you turn that can limit your experience. Each stage (The Grid, Expansions, Area 909, and especially Elrow) are worth spending some time at each day. They are close enough to one another as well that it does not take too long for a quick side quest. We tell everyone that when you are walking the grounds at ARC, let your ears and your feet guide you from time to time and see where you end up!
Why We Love ARC So Much
We’ve mentioned it in the past and we’ll celebrate it again. The ARC Music Festival community is one of our favorites to be a part of. The crowd seems to strike a perfect balance: mature, respectful, and still fully ready to party. It’s clear that many attendees are seasoned festival-goers who know how to enjoy the scene responsibly. That is not to say that new comers are not welcome, in fact it is the opposite. This is a group of festival goers that get excited when others want to learn more about the sound they are so in love with. Open mindedness is huge at ARC and is what helps everyone feel comfortable once inside the grounds. The music, the setting, the attendees, everything is perfect when it comes to the ARC experience.
This festival is one that feels as if it grows stronger with every year that passes. Yet another massive lineup filled with names that are some of (and going to be) the most important in the dance music scene. For it’s fifth anniversary, it is safe to say ARC Music Festival is going to deliver once again.
We cannot wait to be back this year! If for some reason you still do not have your ticket, they are live at this link.
See you there.