Progressive house pioneer Sasha is ready to rock Abu Dhabi this Friday, May 16. The DJ and producer, who last year released the third in his Involver album series and smashed a residency at Ibiza’s Ushuaïa Tower, is headlining a 12-hour event at Monte-Carlo Beach Club.

The original DJ icon, Sasha – real name Alexander Coe – has chalked up 25 years at the top after discovering house music at legendary Manchester club The Haçienda in 1988. His decision to try to break the US, along with fellow DJ John Digweed, led to a residency at New York club Twilo and several sell-out tours of the States. The pair’s 1996 mix album, Northern Exposure, is considered by many as one of the best DJ mix albums of all time.

One of the first truly international superstar DJs, Sasha is on record as saying that he reassessed his position on the scene when the new generation of DJs and producers started to break through and EDM began to emerge in the States.

“I definitely felt I had to work out where I fitted in,” he said. “I remember thinking, ‘A couple of years ago I was on the main stage doing the closing set at festivals but I don’t feel like I belong there any more’. I felt like I belonged in one of the smaller side tents playing music that was closer to my heart.”

The Grammy-nominated DJ was back on top form at a sold-out New Year’s Eve gig at London’s O2 Academy in Brixton – his first NYE show in London for over ten years. Catch some of that Sasha magic in Abu Dhabi on May 16.

Monte-Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Friday, May 16, 4pm to 4am, Dhs195. Taxi: Monte-Carlo Beach Club. Tel: (056) 9551213. montecarlobeachclub.ae