AS the frontman and main songwriter with EMF, James Atkin was responsible for the hit Unbelievable which topped the charts in America and established the band at the forefront of a new sound in the UK in the early Nineties.

On Monday, James will be one of the main attractions at Darwen Live performing songs for the EMF back catalogue and also material from his new solo project The Party Faithful.

"These days it's a case of being able to pick and choose the dates I want to do," said James. "We kind of do the interesting gigs so Darwen looked like it would be fun we have a weekend of gigs and it's a great way to round them off."

EMF had massive but relatively short-lived success. Their debut album Schubert Dip was released in 1991 and their third and final album, Cha Cha Cha just four years later. before the band split up for the first time.

Several reunions have since occurred and James confirmed that EMF will be back for a few shows in October.

"It always take lot of organising," he said, "as now we're kind of split up all over the country and it's having the time to get everyone together and do it."

When not writing music or performing, James is now a music teacher at a high school in Keighley.

"Yes, I'm a full on secondary school teacher," he said.

"Some of the pupils are aware about my connection to the band but they are not very interested in it

"It's more the parents. Parents' evening can be bit of a nightmare because you find them making a beeline for you and going 'I remember you' or 'I bought your album'. I have had to do some autographs at parents' evening but I try and steer clear of doing that if I can.

"It's strange to think that I was travelling around the world in a rock and roll style and now I'm chasing kids from behind the temporary classroom."

But James is very happy combining his two roles.

"I'm certainly a lot more comfortable in my skin now," he said. "They say that happens as you get older but I think probably going off and getting a job and becoming a teacher and having to stand in front of 30 odd kids every day kind of gives you more confidence as well.

"Also there's definitely less pressure on me and performing just is more fun and we are in it to have good time."

With their experimental sound, EMF were at the forefront of the Nineties' dance sound.

"We were indie kids at heart," said James, "but we embraced the technology that was around at the time.

"As soon as technology became affordable for kids to have a simple sampler and be able to loop something we were right on it. Our equipment was very primitive compared to today's standards."

Success came very quickly for EMF.

"When we went to America we were not old enough to drink," he laughed. "We were touring the States not old enough to go into bars.

"I was about 20 then and had a few years of playing in bands behind me young but I soon grew up."

One song above all others has become inextricably linked with James, Unbelievable.

"I didn't enjoy performing it for quite a while," he said. "but I'm actually enjoying it again now.

"It's the one that gets the crowd going and now I really don't mind doing it.

"If I went to see any of my favourite bands I'd want them to do the big hits"

James Atkin plays the main stage at Darwen Live on Bank Holiday Monday at 6.35pm