Big night this, added to by the venue hosting it. Derrick May is in town, stepping up for his second Picnic event, this time around at The Basement, which is guaranteed to be pure vibes. It’s happening tomorrow night (apologies for short notice!) and attendance is essential.
Derrick May, Mayday, Rhythim Is Rhythim – no matter the name he goes under the Belleville Three member known dubbed The Innovator remains the most active of his one-time peers. The thing about Mayday, is that even on top of his legendary status as a producer and figurehead for techno, the man is an INCREDIBLE DJ. He knows exactly how to play a party with a wax, and you never get the same set twice. You’re not turning up to say you saw the person behind the decks, but to hear live a masterclass in spinning records.
The Basement has long-time been my favourite venue in Sydney. 500 capacity max and more than decent sound system some of the most memorable performances from Dr. John and Herbie Hancock to Sage Francis and Dudley Perkins to Rainer Truby and Bugz In The Attic – since they moved away from purely funk and jazz the venue’s been smashing it even more so.
Tickets are through Moshtix only, link right down the bottom after press release, flyer at the top. And just for a little something special and to get us all hype, here’s a three hour live mix from 2011 done for Dommune.
via Picnic
Here we go. Technically our first party for the summer and we’re going LARGE. It’s the long awaited second coming of DERRICK MAY to Picnic!!
So the dude finished high school with his buddies Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, the “Belleville Three”, and happened to invent techno. Thanks Derrick! Of the handful of people who can legitimately be called Detroit legends, he’s well and truly at the top of the bunch and he’s stayed there for the best part of three decades.
Beyond all the things that make him such a key historical figure in the scene – Strings of Life, Nude Photo, It Is What It Is, all that genre-defining business – he’s still at the top of his game both behind the decks and in the studio. Earlier in the year he pulled together a stunning disc on ‘We Love… Detroit’ (the other being mixed by Jimmy Edgar) which came full circle, encapsulating the truly classic Detroit techno vibe through current tracks by dudes like Andres, KiNK and Carl Craig. We had the extreme pleasure of partying with him a couple of years ago, and now the legend is back for round two at Picnic!
Kali will be warming up the floor when we open at 11pm, then it’s over to Derrick for as long as he’s feeling it – an extended set of pure dance magic.
Get in quick for $20 early bird tix! Or 1st & 2nd release tickets, $25 & $30 respectively.
Resident Advisor: http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?524877
Tickets from Moshtix: http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/derrick-may-detroit/68457