“EMF are a band reborn. The power of their reunion albums, combined with their obvious camaraderie, makes their shows something to treasure. As life-affirming live as they are on record, make sure you catch EMF in person.” – Sonic Abuse, 2024
Formed in 1989 in the quiet town of Cinderford, EMF burst onto the global stage with their infectious mix of dance, rock, and pop. Within a year, they conquered the charts with “Unbelievable,” a generation-defining hit.
Their debut Schubert Dip (1991) captured their raw, genre-bending sound, followed by Stigma (1992) and Cha Cha Cha (1995), which delved into darker territory before the band took a break. Along the way, they released a hit cover of The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” with comedians Vic and Bob.
During their hiatus, members pursued new paths — James Atkin went solo and taught music, Ian Dench became an acclaimed songwriter and executive, Derry Brownson launched Little Killers, and Zac Foley joined Carrie.
A 2001 reunion for The Best of EMF: Epsom Mad Funkers hinted at a full comeback, but Zac’s sudden passing in 2002 halted plans. Sporadic shows followed, including a 2012 live video revisiting Schubert Dip and Stigma.
In 2020, EMF truly reignited with the 30th-anniversary box set From Us to You. Renewed inspiration led to Go Go Sapiens (2022) and the acclaimed The Beauty and the Chaos (2024), solidifying their modern resurgence.
In 2025, a blue plaque in Cinderford honoured their legacy — a symbol of the pride they bring to the Forest of Dean. Now, EMF are not just back, they’re thriving. Still creating, still touring, and still charged with the same life-affirming energy that made them unforgettable.
SUPPORT FROM – BIS
Somehow, 2024 saw the 30th anniversary of the birth of Glasgow, Scotland’s Disco/Punk legends bis. 2025 sees them move in their fourth decade of a rollercoaster existence. A whirlwind first 18 months saw them go from playing to a handful of curious future fans in Glasgow basements to peak-time TV stardom on Top of the Pops and filling huge tents at festivals across Europe all while still teenagers. While the UK media was in equal parts enamoured and horrified by the unorthodox musical DNA of the band, their knack for a nagging melody, unrelenting energy and wide-eyed politics saw them hit big in Japan, nearly breakthrough in America where they had label support from the Beastie Boys and touring with a diverse range of acts reflecting the disparate range of influences the band had – Foo Fighters, The Cardigans, Bikini Kill and Pavement to name but a few. Whilst perhaps best known for early Riot-Grrrl influenced hit ‘Kandy Pop’ or the later slick Techno-Pop of ‘Eurodisco’, the band are also known worldwide as creators of the original theme to ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ cartoon and for the appearance of ‘Statement of Intent’ on the soundtrack to the ‘Jet Set Future’ videogame.