Sergei Prokofiev, the brilliant Russian composer, shook up the early part of the 20th century with works full of startling percussive energy. Fittingly, his grandson, Gabriel Prokofiev, is doing pretty much the same thing in the early part of the 21st, if in a decidedly different manner. The current Prokofiev, immersed in the world of techno dance and hip-hop, has written a Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra and string quartets that include remixes.

The U.K.-based Prokofiev will make his Baltimore debut Friday at the Windup Space, along with fellow Londoners GeNIA, a Russian-born pianist with a flair for performing avant-garde repertoire (one of her impressive recent recordings on the innovative Nonclassical label is an all-Gabriel Prokofiev disc); and Powerplant, a vibrant ensemble that fuses percussion, video and more. They're all being presented by the Baltimore contemporary music venture Mobtown Modern.

"For the first time, we have people from overseas," says Mobtown's curator and co-founder Brian Sacawa. "It's a prelude to what the series is going to be in the future. We'll always still have homegrown artists, but we're also trying to get some really spectacular musicians from other places, too."

Friday's concert, dubbed "London Calling," has a local twist. Baltimore beatboxer phenom Shodekeh will stop by, fresh from his Baltimore Symphony Orchestra gig at Meyerhoff Hall, to take part in what Sacawa calls a "beatboxer battle. It's good for us to have a little cross-pollination, to have our town's talent interface with talent from abroad."

Mobtown Modern's "London Calling" concert is at 9 p.m. Friday at the Windup Space, 12 W. North Ave. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Tim Smith