Austen van Der Bleek, who plays Bar Mezzo in St. Petersburg, Florida on May 31, 2025. Credit: Photo by Sandrasonik Creative Photography via avbleek/Facebook

Austen van der Bleek is known for putting a modern spin on original Chicago, New York, and Detroit house during his sets. Fresh off a trip to Detroit—the birthplace of techno—van der Bleek brings his unique tastes (and record store finds) back to the Bay area this weekend.

Many argue that EDM was a European trend, but it was in Motor City basement studios and abandoned Detroit warehouses where many subgenres began, and thanks to artists like van der Bleek that history won’t be lost.

Van der Bleek—who explores the stories of underground cultural movements in his performance—was voted best DJ for Best of the Bay in 2019 and has continued performing in the Bay area since.

There’s no cover to see Austen van der Bleek play Bar Mezzo in St. Petersburg on Saturday, May 31.