One well-kept secret about the Midwest is that electronic music bases its origins here. Detroit was ground zero for techno music, and while it spread throughout the world, the Midwest has always remained fertile creative ground, mostly because of its detachment from the nightlife centers on the coasts. Woody McBride is a name known worldwide in electronic music, but his base is right here in the middle of the country.

From Minneapolis, Minn., McBride has made his name not only as a DJ, but also as a prolific pioneer of hard-hitting techno beats. Stripped down to the essence of the sound, his deep kicks and mind-twisting synth lines cut right to the heart of the dance floor. With more than 200 releases on dozens of labels, as well as his own Communique Records, you can find his music in DJ crates the world over.

McBride’s pioneering spirit brought some of the first and biggest electronic music events to the Midwest. Gaining legendary status due not only to bringing the planet’s biggest techno talents to the cold upper reaches of the Midwest, but for his legendary

“Wall of Bass” sound system: a 150-foot-long, 20-foot-high, literal wall of sound. It didn’t take long for the uninitiated masses to catch on; when you’re literally enveloped by sound, you can’t help but love it.  

What has always set McBride apart from the hard-partying rave and club scene is his positive attitude, and his commitment to a chemical-free lifestyle. He gets his energy from living well and from pounding beats. His shamanistic approach to music is one of release, renewal and regeneration. In his own words: “We are constantly returning to the source, to the energy of our peers, to our principles of clean living ... retracing the steps that connect us to one another … in stereo.”

This Saturday, McBride will bring his bass-heavy meditations live and direct to your ears, along with local techno hero Adam Jay, old school heavyweight Unit-E and masters of the eclectic Brian Bennett and RCiaglia. Just don’t offer to buy McBride a beer. Water will do, thanks.