Michigan State University Museum to host new exhibition on Detroit techno

A new exhibition focusing on “the raw energy and global impact” of techno is set to launch at Michigan State University (MSU) Museum in East Lansing, Michigan.

Techno: The Rise of Detroit’s Machine Music will be an "innovative exploration of Detroit’s role as the birthplace of techno music and its connection to Afrofuturism," according to a post on Instagram.

Set to run from February 4 to April 30, MSU shared that the exhibition intends to reveal stories of identity and community while celebrating "the innovative spirit of Black Detroit" through the lens of techno's roots.

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The main exhibit is a 45-minute long "dynamic audio-visual collaboration" between seminal Detroit techno collective Underground Resistance and artist Andrew Charles Edman.

Also on display will be a range of artefacts, including album covers, soundsystems from Detroit's historic Club Heaven and tech – such as the Roland 303 bass synthesiser and the TR-808 drum machine.

There'll also be panel discussions, including one between the producer DJ Carl Craig and Underground Resistance founder Mike Banks, and an all-female talk exploring women's contributions to electronic music. Both will be followed by sets from Craig and DJ Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale respectively.

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In a statement, Underground Resistance member and the exhibition's community curator John Collins said: “This exhibition captures that spirit of possibility, showing how Detroit’s techno pioneers turned machines into voices of hope and transformation.”

Exhibition curator Julian Chambliss added: “Techno is more than music; it’s a cultural movement that captures Detroit’s resilience and creativity. This exhibition invites visitors to explore how music influences identity and inspires visions of the future."

Henrietta Taylor is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter