The Forum presents:

EMF

The Forum, Royal Tunbridge Wells

on sale Friday at 10am
Entry Requirements: 16+ (under 16s accompanied by an adult)
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EMF are a British alternative rock band from Cinderford who rose to global fame with their 1990 hit “Unbelievable,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Blending indie rock with dance grooves, they became one of the defining acts of the early 90s. Known for their high-energy live shows, EMF have remained a cult favourite across decades. They also collaborated with comedy duo Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer on the track “I’m a Believer.” Still electrifying crowds today, EMF continue to bring nostalgia and excitement to stages worldwide.

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Please can we come play Lunar? i love this festival, i played there a couple of years a go with Bentley Rhythm Ace and had a ball. Plus i am a local boy!!

Best remembered for the international smash "Unbelievable" and incendiary live shows, the British dance-rock quintet EMF formed in Cinderford, England in October 1989. All five members — vocalist James Atkin, guitarist Ian Dench, keyboardist Derry Brownson, bassist Zachary Foley and drummer Mark DeCloedt — were veterans of the local music scene before founding EMF, whose name supposedly stood for "Epsom Mad Funkers" (although it was widely speculated that the initials instead represented "Ecstasy Mother Fuckers"). Within two months of formation, the group played its first gig; after unearthing a Casio sampler and sequencer in a local thrift shop, a light techno element was added to their rock-oriented sound.

By the end of 1990, EMF's infectious debut single Unbelievable had conquered the U.K. charts; it hit number one in the U.S. the following year. The 1991 album Schubert Dip was also successful; spawning further hit singles in “I Believe”, “Children” and "Lies." (The LP also garnered considerable press when Yoko Ono objected to the group's use of a voice sample of Mark David Chapman, the murderer of John Lennon; the offending sound bite was later removed from future pressings.)

In 1992, EMF returned with the Unexplained EP and the much darker full-length effort Stigma; and after an extended period of touring the band effectively vanished from sight until 1995's Cha Cha Cha.

The summer of 1995 saw the band abandoning promotion of Cha Cha Cha and teaming up with comics Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer on a cover of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" which reached number 2 on the UK charts.