What Macau needs is a good old-fashioned rave. Sure, it might have Vegas beat in terms of gambling revenue, but when it comes to partying Cotai can’t compare with anything on The Strip. As Mandy, aka Foxy, from Hong Kong-based drum‘n’bass group Magnetic Soul laments, “Macau really has no clubbing culture to speak of.” For a place with the moniker ‘sin city’, it’s an embarrassing diagnosis.

Leading by example, Magnetic Soul are taking action. After four years as vanguards of Hong Kong’s emerging d‘n’b scene, they are finally bringing their beats, and an injection of much-needed street-cred, to Macau.

They have a tough challenge ahead. Across the waters, their style of music is a hard sell; it doesn’t exactly come sugar-coated with euphonic melodies or lyrics, all too often the sound of choice in Macau. However, there is more at stake though than just playing music and hoping people like it. As Mandy puts it, it’s also about music democracy, “Giving people choice and creating something else in Macau’s clubbing scene”. It’s also education. “In most parts of the world, club goers know the difference between techno and d’n’b or soulful house”. Macau is not part of that world… yet.

Hailing from day jobs in PR, graphic design, and web development, as well as DJing, Magnetic Soul was brought together by Englishman Cookie. Since 2005 they have played over 80 gigs in Hong Kong, but it’s taken them till now to catch the Turbojet west. Considering one member, Saiyan, is actually from Macau, the visit seems long overdue. So why the long wait? Put simply, there hasn’t been enough demand. However, recently a growing number of d’n’b and dubstep artists such as N1D, Zuju, Sanja, and Loboo began appearing on the enclave’s clubbing scene. It was enough for the Magnetic Soul crew to decide Macau was ready for its first official night of drum’n’bass.

So as not to scare off newcomers, the night will kick off with Saiyan spinning milder tracks, covering liquid funk, jump-up, and techstep. “It’ll get more hardcore though”, Mandy reassures. Blood Dunza will wrap up with the “deeper and darker vibes” that have become his trademark. The full line-up also features MC Rebearth, MC Capas, and VJ Ocular.

The event promises to be a night to remember  – and perhaps, just perhaps, will mark the day Macau embraced the sound of d’n’b.

Magnetic Soul and guests will play XLCreation, Bldg 10B, 48-48D Av Do Coronel Mesquita, City, at 10pm, Sat 18. Tickets are $100 with drink. Buy at door. www.magneticsoul.co.uk.