EMF celebrates 40 years with a new tour, starting next Friday

“It’s been really tough keeping this under wraps,” said James Atkin and Ian Dench of British dance-rock quintet EMF, bursting with excitement about the new tour, announced now. Amongst those dates, EMF even returns to the USA, for the first time in over 30 years. “We’re thrilled to finally announce these very special U.S. shows.” Set to perform at Milwaukee’s Summerfest on June 21st, Detroit’s Magic Bag on June 22nd, and Brooklyn’s The Monarch on June 23rd, it marks the band’s return to the States for the first time since 1992.

Riding high on the wave of U.K. acclaim following their fifth album, “The Beauty and The Chaos,” released in January 2024 and a sold-out 11-night tour, EMF’s return to the States is a career pinnacle unmatched since their early ‘90s heyday. Their live shows, which amplify their already adrenaline-soaked studio recordings, retain all the youthful vigour and sweat-soaked exuberance.

Bursting onto the scene in November 1990 with their debut album “Schubert Dip,” EMF made a seismic impact with their ubiquitous and irresistibly catchy single “Unbelievable,” which topped charts on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 in the UK. Certified gold in the U.S. by May 1991, it sold over 500,000 copies and finished the year as the #6 single overall in America. “Schubert Dip” went platinum in the U.S. by September of that year, surpassing one million copies sold.

Their latest album, “The Beauty And The Chaos,” saw the return of Ralph Jezzard (Chapterhouse, Fatima Mansions, Senseless Things) in the producer’s chair (he produced their first two albums, “Schubert Dip” and “Stigma”). The band commented on reuniting with Jezzard, saying, “We’ve created another set of timeless songs reflecting our lives and the world in 2023, inspired by our favourite past, present, and future sounds. We blended James Atkin’s techno synths and Ian Dench’s punk guitar, heated it up to 200 degrees with Stevey Marsh and Aid Todd’s groovy rock rhythms, seasoned it with Derry Brownson’s frenetic sampling, and enveloped it in Ralph Jezzard’s sonic brilliance. Unwrap and enjoy!” The album’s lead single, “Hello People,” reasserted the band’s dominance on the mainstream scene, with My Global Mind enthusing, “I, for one, am ecstatic. Bouncing around the room like it’s 1991-92 all over again and feeling fantastic for it.”

“Expect all the old hits and a couple of bangers from our new album, ‘The Beauty and the Chaos,’ at these shows,” concluded the band. These performances are sure to be, well, unbelievable.