Derrick May at Ruby Khi - Jul 9

The Godfather of Techno returns to Beijing

Over the past few years one genre has dominated the dance music scene in Beijing: techno. Whether it’s the Berlin- based bleeps of minimal techno, or the harder, faster beats of traditional Detroit techno, it has been the most prevalent sound on Beijing’s dancefloors.

If you happen to be a big fan of house, drum ’n’ bass or trance, you’d be forgiven for feeling like a downtrodden minority, whimpering bitterly at the happiness of all those techno fans.

If you want someone to blame for this situation, a good target would be Derrick May.

The man dubbed the ‘The Godfather of Techno’ earned his nickname by being one of the three high school friends that decided, one epiphanic day in 1987, that the house music they’d been DJing could do with a nudge in a different direction.

Techno was born from the industrial decay of Detroit and the lineage of soulful musicians who called the city their home.

Derrick released the first batch of tracks that would define the genre, and in the minds of a new generation, techno would soon replace Motown as the city’s most important genre.

Rubi Khi (formerly i-Ultra Lounge) has worked hard to make May the first big name DJ to grace their decks, and seeing as this is only his second time in Beijing, it makes his set truly something to savour.

In the intervening four years since he first visited the capital the nightlife scene here has grown exponentially, and the audiences are more clued up.

Derrick May’s sets are always profoundly deep, every techno producer in the world wants their record in his box, meaning his mixes are packed with the freshest tracks nestling alongside time worn classics.

Whether you’re one of the multitudinous techno fans that have helped the genre explode, or part of that whimpering minority mentioned earlier, the chance to see The Godfather at work is really an offer you can’t refuse – it might be a while before you get the chance again. Ross Goulding

Thur 9 The Godfather of techno and one of the biggest names in the history of electronic music Derrick May returns to Beijing, supported by Patrick Yu, Eddie LV and Kai.

Ruby Khi 80RMB on the door, 60RMB advance tickets including one drink. 10pm-late.