diff --git a/platypush/backend/midi.py b/platypush/backend/midi.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2c8725cf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platypush/backend/midi.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+import logging
+import json
+import time
+
+import rtmidi
+
+from threading import Timer
+
+from platypush.backend import Backend
+from platypush.message.event.midi import MidiMessageEvent
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class MidiBackend(Backend):
+    """
+    This backend will listen for events from a MIDI device and post a
+    MidiMessageEvent whenever a new MIDI event happens.
+
+    It requires `rtmidi`, `pip install rtmidi`
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, device_name=None, port_number=None,
+                 midi_throttle_time=None, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Params:
+            device_name -- Name of the MIDI device.
+                *N.B.* either `device_name` or `port_number` must be set
+            port_number -- MIDI port number
+                *N.B.* either `device_name` or `port_number` must be set
+            midi_throttle_time -- If set, the MIDI events will be throttled -
+                max one per selected time frame (in seconds). Set this parameter
+                if you want to synchronize MIDI events with plugins that
+                normally operate with a lower throughput.
+        """
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        if (device_name and port_number is not None) or \
+                (not device_name and port_number is None):
+            raise RuntimeError('Either device_name or port_number (not both) ' +
+                               'must be set in the MIDI backend configuration')
+
+        self.midi_throttle_time = midi_throttle_time
+        self.midi = rtmidi.MidiIn()
+        self.last_trigger_event_time = None
+        self.midi_flush_timeout = None
+        ports = self.midi.get_ports()
+
+        if not ports:
+            raise RuntimeError('No MIDI devices available')
+
+        if device_name:
+            if device_name not in ports:
+                raise RuntimeError('MIDI device "{}" not found'.format(device_name))
+
+            self.port_number = ports.index(device_name)
+            self.device_name = device_name
+
+        if port_number:
+            if port_number < 0 or port_number >= len(ports):
+                raise RuntimeError('MIDI port {} not found')
+
+            self.port_number = port_number
+            self.device_name = ports[port_number]
+
+        self.midi.set_callback(self._on_midi_message())
+
+
+    def _on_midi_message(self):
+        def flush_midi_message(message):
+            def _f():
+                logger.info('Flushing throttled MIDI message {} to the bus'.format(message))
+                delay = time.time() - self.last_trigger_event_time
+                self.bus.post(MidiMessageEvent(message=message, delay=delay))
+            return _f
+
+        def callback(message, data):
+            # rtmidi will provide a tuple in the format
+            # (midi_message, time_since_last_event)
+            delay = message[1]
+            message = message[0]
+
+            if self.midi_throttle_time and self.last_trigger_event_time:
+                event_delta = time.time() - self.last_trigger_event_time
+                if event_delta < self.midi_throttle_time:
+                    logger.debug('Skipping throttled message {}'.format(message))
+                    if self.midi_flush_timeout:
+                        self.midi_flush_timeout.cancel()
+
+                    self.midi_flush_timeout = Timer(
+                        self.midi_throttle_time-event_delta,
+                        flush_midi_message(message))
+
+                    self.midi_flush_timeout.start()
+                    return
+
+            self.last_trigger_event_time = time.time()
+            self.bus.post(MidiMessageEvent(message=message, delay=delay))
+
+        return callback
+
+
+    def run(self):
+        super().run()
+
+        self.midi.open_port(self.port_number)
+        logger.info('Initialized MIDI backend, listening for events on device {}'.
+                     format(self.device_name))
+
+        while not self.should_stop():
+            try:
+                time.sleep(1)
+            except Exception as e:
+                logging.exception(e)
+
+        if self.midi:
+            self.midi.close_port(self.port_number)
+            self.midi = None
+
+
+# vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:
+
diff --git a/platypush/message/event/midi.py b/platypush/message/event/midi.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ca300c865
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platypush/message/event/midi.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from platypush.message.event import Event
+
+
+class MidiMessageEvent(Event):
+    def __init__(self, message, delay=None, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, message=message, delay=delay, **kwargs)
+
+
+# vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:
+