Jeff Mills Performs Live Score to Metropolis at Palace of Fine Arts
On March 7, 2026, Detroit techno pioneer Jeff Mills will present Cinemix: Metropolis at the historic Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco. This rare performance features the artist delivering an original electronic score in real time, accompanying Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent film masterpiece, Metropolis.
As one of only two U.S. presentations of this specific project, the event represents a significant crossover for the San Francisco arts calendar, bridging the gap between underground electronic music and the city’s formal cultural institutions. Metropolis remains a landmark of cinema, exploring complex themes of labor, class division, and the moral friction between humanity and technology. Nearly a century after its release, these subjects remain strikingly relevant.
Mills’ 2023 composition serves as his third distinct score for the film. It is designed as a symphonic electronic work intended to heighten the film’s emotional and political resonance. By staging this performance at the Palace of Fine Arts, the event highlights the evolution of electronic music from its roots in late-night club culture to a sophisticated, seated concert experience.
The performance is a centerpiece of the Unabridged Weekender, an initiative produced by As You Like It (AYLI), a Bay Area platform dedicated to elevating underground artists through curated cultural programming. The weekender includes a series of events:
- March 6: 30-year ‘Live in the Liquid Room’ Anniversary DJ performance
- March 7: ‘Metropolis Metropolis’ live score
- March 5–8: Additional talks and programming
Event Details
March 7, 2026, Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA. Tickets are available via the official AYLI Unabridged Weekender portal.
