Sarah L Dixon Writer

Double-header like recent gigs

The second and third of three bands who wrote the first three albums I owned, recorded on tape-to-tape decks by friends who had to share these with me. My friend, Joanne, handed me these three albums, two are featured in this blog (and my next one) – I changed the plan here to get this out before Shiiine On. The third features in my James blog from earlier on this year. Jesus Jones and EMF have been on double-header tours the last two years and I have loved the events in Manchester and Leeds. I also saw them both at my first ever Shiiine On Weekender in March this year at Skegness Butlins.

I am also giddy about the fact I will be on stage on 16th November at Shiiine On Weekender at Minehead Butlins. Jesus Jones are on the line-up too and James Atkin is doing a DJ set there too.

EMF – 1990-now for me

My parents said I was too young to go to gigs at this time when I was discovering music, also going to concerts were not really something my family did. So, I didn’t even ask if I could go and see a band as I don’t think my friends were doing this either when we were fourteen. This doesn’t mean the music of this time didn’t massively influence us and shape our taste in clothes and how we chose to spend our time with friends and alone. Listening to albums on my cheap Index Walkman, on my X-Bass player or on a blue, leather Dansette one of my neighbours gave me was one of my favourite hobbies, along with collecting the numbers of car registration plates and watching films like Dead Poets’ Society, Grease 2 and Ghost.

This is the reason I did not see EMF until 2008. The reason I saw them in 2008 was because the first band I ever saw had reformed, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine. EMF were the support band at the Carling Academy in Birmingham. Another band, who will be at Shiiine in just over a week, also supported that day, S*M*A*S*H. I had booked the tickets for Carter and took my then partner along to see them and he was totally converted as they were a band that put on such a show. EMF playing was a brilliant bonus. I think we were busy on a pre-gig pub crawl so did not make S*M*A*S*H set. I will endeavour to watch them at Shiiine to make up for this as long there are no big clashes.

I do not have photos from this gig as it was time before smartphones blocked our view at gigs. I do try to get a handful of photos – a dozen good ones and some blur and bounce and a couple of 20 second clips of favourite songs but apart from that just bounce around and grin lost in the fact we are feeling like we are fifteen again.

Holmfirth Picturedrome – Jan 2024

At The Holmfirth Picturedrome I met James outside while I was queuing. He clocked my EMF t-shirt from the Carter gig and commented ‘Old school!’ with a grin. ‘Yeah, Carter!’. ‘Cool!’ he said with that grin that just lights him and all around him up. My first band beanie was bought – I now own a Carter one, a Pele one, two Shiiine ones, a second EMF one and most recently a Jesus Jones one.

As we were waiting at the barrier Aid let us know we would need to move back a little for the support band. I knew The Dirt were supporting and there were only two of them (but also they could make a lot of noise for a two-piece so we moved back a couple of feet. Aid asked us to keep moving back explaining he wanted to fit a forty-piece drum band in front of the stage. I thought he was joking but a forty piece Drum Machine filled the space and they were brilliant. I am hoping to catch them again soon. They were evidently having a lot of fun and this was a community as well as a band.

I noticed EMF are a very tactile band. I am not sure if this is James’ influence or the fact they have all been playing together so long they are close-knit and often hug on stage and hug their guests who are just invited into the love too.

And what a brilliant set. I found it a little strange that the audience was not mosh pit, I think this depends a little on the venue. It was like everyone was giving each other the space to dance and I wasn’t used to that. I was used to the push and pull, the joyous battle to remain upright in Stuffies and Jim Bob pits. This was a different vibe and I could actually think about dancing with my arms and body as well as just pogoing and this was refreshing. Also, the drum band joined EMF on the stage for Unbelievable. James was climbing about right in front of the speakers wanting to get close to us all.

After the gig I met Aid and chatted with him for a while near the bar and said ‘Hello!’ to Ian Dench too and thanked him for the songs and I told him about my book and asked if he might give me some words for the back. He said I could send him something across, so I did and he swiftly sent me some words over.

Why had I waited another 16 years to see them again?

I think life was just happening and music was still a big part of my life but I was going to fewer gigs, the occasional Indie All Dayer but not regular gigs. Mainly I was going to poetry, more local band nights, pub quizzes, writing workshops, Zumba classes and playing softball. I don’t think I was even looking out for bands playing. Then, I had a child called Frank and became a single parent when he was seven and couldn’t really justify the cost of gigs very often. When I got a pay rise a couple of years ago I decided I was going to stop feeling guilty about going to gigs and feeling like I had to justify the cost to myself and the pay rise would cover the cost of a local gig and some merch each month so I promised myself twelve gigs a year and then the festivals have started sneaking in too. It is still a challenge to fit the gigs in around a full-time job but I can now go out in the evening to listen to music occasionally as long as Iam back by midnight. 90s indie crowds know I am back and loving it!

October 2024 Manchester Ritz

This time there was a double-header on my birthday weekend and what better way to celebrate it than by seeing EMF and Jesus Jones on the same stage the same night. My friend Graham introduced me to Bea, who he had met at a Poppies gig a week or so before. Bea is now a good friend too. I love the way friendships are so easy to fall into when you have the music in common already. It is a perfect way to find people you know will ‘get’ you.

We enjoyed singing and dancing along to Echobelly and Jesus Jones that night too but EMF were so on form the room was theirs. I left a book behind the desk in The Ritz with their manager but am not sure it ever made its way to them.

Graham was amused as he hadn’t introduced me to Bea yet and had gone to the bar. By the time he had returned five minutes later we had got chatting over the fact we had the same hat and I had sold Bea a book. Graham wasn’t surprised!

Brief Bentley Rhythm Ace interlude

I started off my Skegness Shiiine On Weekender at Butlins by seeing Bentley Rhythm Ace and what a way to start the weekend. Acid flags, glow-sticks, balloons and James with his ever puppyish enthusiasm and energy which pulls you along with it. It makes me grin. Partly because I see myself being like that sometimes and it is contagious this joy, bounce, wonder and I think people find it annoying sometimes but I hope mainly it makes people’s lives brighter, more fun, makes them grin too. I would love to meet James one day and have a proper chat as I feel our energies are very similar.

I did go to catch the EMF set but realised it clashed with the beginning of the Frank and Walters set and I wanted to see them too so left soon after Jim Bob joined James on stage and James gave him the biggest hug.

Leeds Warehouse Oct 11th 2025

I met up with Graham and Lindsay in the pub beforehand and then on to The Warehouse. This venue was new to me. A place I had heard of regularly but had not visited. My birthday weekend again and I saw James, Ian and Aid walking around the crowd before the gig started. I said Hi! to Aid but then went to the merch desk to buy a Jesus Jones bobble hat in Doubt colours (more of that in a later blog).

bis were the support that night and were pure Euro pop bounce and I will be looking out for them playing again. Then, Jesus Jones (again more of that in another blog) and EMF. The crowd was very sweaty and bouncy and it was more of the mosh pit way of dancing I was used to.

At one point, I don’t remember which song, just that I had my glasses in one hand and suddenly found myself swept 7 people to the right. Still grinning. Then, James reached into the crowd and took my hand so I could support him at the barrier, maybe he also sensed I was a little disorientated by the fact I suddenly found myself somewhere else. I wasn’t sure who was holding who up but it meant the crowd around me calmed a little too and James gifted me the biggest grin.

I loved the fact they all seemed to have one item of clothing that lit up in the UV – Stevey’s shorts were the best item, I think.

Oh! The mix tape t-shirt that came with a real mix tape with one side recorded by Ian and one side by James. Inspired! I didn’t even know I got a free tape when I had decided on the t-shirt! I didn’t feel like I was a dance kid but I think I was more of one than I thought and James’ side of the mix tape proved this to me as I knew every song on that side and there were some interesting choices but they were all ones I knew well. Ian’s side was more eclectic with quite a lot of punk which when I think about it wasn’t that surprising and he introduced me to several songs I didn’t know as well. Thanks Ian and James. I won’t let you know what is on it in case you buy one, don’t want to spoil the surprise.

I love the new songs and when bis joined EMF for the new LGBTQ+ Lover song that was a brilliant moment. The Day the music died sounds like a classic from back in the day. My new EP has arrived today and you can check our the EMF merch and buy the EP here:

EMF-TheBand.com

EMF are playing an intimate venue a short bus ride from my house and I am delighted. Tickets for March tour are now available on the website too.

EMF – Schubert Dip influence

Children
This is one of my favourite tracks already and the fact it was the song Jim joined them to play at Skegness may also sway that further. Great advice.

build you life/until you find what’s right/for you

Girl of an Age and Traveling not running

I love the groove of these – slower though a breath-catching song when in the mosh pit – a relief, singing and swaying.

EMF
The secret track was another level of us both wanting to share the music of our youth with the right friends, while keeping it to yourself. This definitely played into the format of the end of my book (so much so I thank EMF over 4 pages for this). I was a little surprised there was not a secret track or a little bit of chat to fill the shorter side on the mix tape.

On relistening to the whole I album I am surprised it is only ten tracks. I think in my head I do include a few of the Stigma singles on this album too. I have made many notes about what the whole of this album makes me feel. Bounce, dance, teen love in both themes, style and lyrics. These are all riffs I know immediately with heart, head and feet. That link between the songs and rhythm and past is deep here. They have strength, resilience and a total band alchemy of instruments, voice, and movement that resonates in their work and their messages too.

Newer albums

If you haven’t checked out the newer albums I would highly recommend doing so (my current favourite is The Beauty and the Chaos). I would argue some of the newer tracks are better than the first two albums. My present favourites are Reach for the lasers, LGBTQ+ Lover, The day the music died, Stardust, 21st Century and I’ve been down.

If you can see them live do go as they invest the space with such love and joy you will leave glowing and feeling invincible for a few hours. A force for good!

Poems inspired by recent EMF gig

Lifted

Lifted 

by the music of our youth

by a wave of nostalgia

grinning like teenage us.

Lifted 

By other fans, pushed back upright,

shoulders patted as we save

glasses or hats from becoming a mosh pit sacrifice

Lifted 

As I hold the hand of the singer 

as he stands on the barrier,

both giving support.

Lifted

Music has always been a two-way connection

even when we listen 

to make lonely rooms

feel less empty,

even more so then.

Lifted.

Reach for the Lasers 

Love is going to save us

in a Leeds Warehouse 

as we reach for the lasers

there is no alternative 

but to believe this.

Buoyant in song.

Propped up by each other.

Embraced by the groove of a bass riff. 

Lost in Aid’s drum-beat rhythm of our youth.

Close enough to hold James’ hand as he barrier balances

connected, I catch a grin, meant for me. 

Close enough to see his eyes sparkle as he shares new music 

and we all receive it excitedly,

bounce all the more. 

We chant L.O.V.E.

Next blogs coming soon…

• An interview with Paul Linehan, The Frank and Walters on Morcambe Fringe podcast
• Shiiine Minehead blog
• N0. 4. Albums that influenced me series –Jesus Jones – Doubt influence

And, now on to Shiiine this weekend!

Sarah L Dixon – Studio 36 – 11-1145am Sun 16th

James Atkin DJ – Centre Stage – 1300-1400 Sat 15th

Shiiine On – Minehead 14/11/2025 | Butlin’s Big Weekenders