Memorial Set for Beloved Funk Fever Co-Founder Roobin Golestan at Migas, Nov 26

Migas regulars are sure to fondly think back on Roobin Golestan's nights behind the decks as part of the Funk Fever DJ sessions he helped co-found. Having sadly passed away on Oct 9 after a battle with brain cancer, the German expat's impact on the scene will be commemorated on Nov 26 with an all-ages, family-friendly party from 3pm onward, featuring fellow friends and DJs such as CAD 73, Boflex, and Kel (of China Radio International’s The Groove Sessions).

As our sister site beijingkids reported earlier today, any donations given at the event, along with portions of funds collected through food and drink sales, will go into a fund for Golestan's wife Katrin and sons Leo and Henry. There's also a Gofundme campaign for anyone who is unable to attend the event but would still like to help.

Michele Lean, a longtime friend and co-organizer of the event says she's more than eager to show Golestan's family support come Nov 26, stating that the Golestan clan felt like her own kin over the years that they spent together. 

"We always use the term ‘Beijing family’ because we look out for one another and we stick together. Beijing was their home – Katrin and Roobin met here, Leo and Henry were born here and are full-blown 北京boys," Lean says. "Wherever he is, I think Roobin would be incredibly happy knowing that we’re all coming together for them because this is as much for Roobin as it is for Katrin, Leo, and Henry ... There is so much uncertainty for them at the moment, the least we can do, as their Beijing family, is to raise them up while they find their feet."

Hailing from the town of Essen in West Germany, Golestan worked at Volkswagen and DMG prior to that. He co-founded Funk Fever in 2009 under the alias Perman alongside fellow DJs Bite-Size Buddha and Martin Star, with the aim of filling "the void that was in Beijing's underground nightlife scene at the time –  there was techno, a little bit of house, and some commercial hip-hop, but there was no funk, no soul, no classic hip-hop, no disco, no grooooooove" (as reads the mission statement on the Funk Fever website, which you can read in full here). True to that spirit, frequent collaborator and old pal Jeff Hinson (AKA Bite-Size Buddha) made a playlist in tribute to his deceased friend, rife with songs that Golestan would often spin at parties.

Lean says, "Roobin loved music. He loved playing Funk Fever nights with Jeff, Martin, and Suiki and exposed his sons Leo and Henry to a wide range of music genres right from their prenatal start." She adds that having a daytime, all-ages tribute to him makes sense because "Funk Fever always took place after the boys’ bedtimes so we thought why not throw a Funk Fever event during the day so we can combine these two loves – Funk Fever and family, a celebration of life and Roobin’s life. He always wanted everyone to have a great time and he would have loved this!"

"His sons won't to be here for the event, but his partner Katrin will make it and we’ll be documenting it for his children, so they’ll be able to be a part of the day in some way too. In fact, the graphics and art were all created by friends and used in his send-off in Germany," Lean adds.

There's already been a considerable buzz for the event, making Lean and the other coordinators all the more keen to put it on. She says: "If you ask anyone who knew Roobin, they’ll agree that he was energetic and zen. He was a really calm person who always made you feel comfortable and ... he always took the time to make sure his friends and family knew he cared and all the kindness and the support we’ve received (for this event) is a testament to the person he was."

The Funky Family tribute to Roobin Golestan will be held at Migas on Nov 26 from 3pm onward. For more information, click here.

Photos: mixcloud.com, Migas