Surreal Madrid
Surreal Madrid are back.
Originally active from 1998–2002, Surreal Madrid emerged at the tail end of the 90s big-beat explosion, when genre lines were blurred and live electronic bands were loud, loose and fearless. The project began when Colin Owens (aka Chef) spent time in the studio with producers Steve Osborne and Paul Oakenfold, clocked an Akai sampler in action, and promptly went home to Liverpool to buy one himself.
One sampler, a drum machine and a top-floor flat on Rodney Street later, Surreal Madrid were born — much to the annoyance of the doctor whose surgery sat directly underneath. A handwritten note through the door read simply:
“Please… No More Boom Boom.”
The phrase stuck. It became the title of the band’s first (and so far only) album.
By 1998, Surreal Madrid had evolved into a full-throttle live three-piece, after manager and Liverpool promoter Marc Jones passed an early cassette to Bentley Rhythm Ace, who invited the band out on tour with them and Les Rhythm Digitale. The line-up sorted Chef with DJ Morf, Mark Davis (aka The Ginger Prince) on drums and Dave White (aka DJ Lucky Strike) on turntables — a collision of live drums, samples, synths and scratch DJ energy.
“We bought some chef outfits, got a drum kit, some turntables, a couple of synths, grabbed the sampler — and away we went.”
Riding the success of “Girls Of The Nite” — a Radio 1 favourite and cross-genre club hit thanks to heavyweight remixes — Surreal Madrid became a fixture on the UK and European festival circuit. Reading & Leeds, Benicàssim, T In The Park and beyond cemented their reputation as electro, big and bouncy, rocking good-time merchants. Additional firepower came from Ben Owens (aka DJ B Side), and shows with Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx, Dub Pistols, Lionrock, Malcolm McLaren, All Seeing I, Freddy Fresh and many more followed. The album No More Boom Boom, produced by Colin Owens and Anthony Chapman (Collapsed Lung / DJ Scissorkicks), was released on Fused & Bruised Records.
Press said:
“The missing link between Acid House and Sonic Youth” — NME
“They say never die with too much fun in the bank — Surreal Madrid are already well overdrawn” — Melody Maker
Then came the legendary ending.
After a brutal drive home from a Polish festival — involving lost shoes, a broken-down van, a driver who quit in Germany, and total exhaustion — a Nord Synth was accidentally left on a wall in London. The band drove back to Liverpool before realising. The synth was never recovered, and Surreal Madrid quietly dissolved.
A year later, Psychic TV told a story in Q Magazine about finding a Nord Synth on a wall in London — and taking it as a sign to make more music.
Maybe it was always meant that way.
FAST FORWARD: 2026
In 2025, a conversation with James at Shiine On changed everything:
“Surreal Madrid were always a staple in our house — d’you want to play Shiine On in March 2026?”
Old hard drives were searched. The classics resurfaced. New tracks were written.
Surreal Madrid return in 2026 with:
• Chef
• DJ B Side
• The Ginger Prince
• Ken Box
• Louis “Party” Duarte
Same spirit. Same energy. Louder lessons learned.
FOR FANS OF
Funky Beats • Electro • Acid House • Rock ’n’ Roll • Electronic Chaos
Originally active from 1998–2002, Surreal Madrid emerged at the tail end of the 90s big-beat explosion, when genre lines were blurred and live electronic bands were loud, loose and fearless. The project began when Colin Owens (aka Chef) spent time in the studio with producers Steve Osborne and Paul Oakenfold, clocked an Akai sampler in action, and promptly went home to Liverpool to buy one himself.
One sampler, a drum machine and a top-floor flat on Rodney Street later, Surreal Madrid were born — much to the annoyance of the doctor whose surgery sat directly underneath. A handwritten note through the door read simply:
“Please… No More Boom Boom.”
The phrase stuck. It became the title of the band’s first (and so far only) album.
By 1998, Surreal Madrid had evolved into a full-throttle live three-piece, after manager and Liverpool promoter Marc Jones passed an early cassette to Bentley Rhythm Ace, who invited the band out on tour with them and Les Rhythm Digitale. The line-up sorted Chef with DJ Morf, Mark Davis (aka The Ginger Prince) on drums and Dave White (aka DJ Lucky Strike) on turntables — a collision of live drums, samples, synths and scratch DJ energy.
“We bought some chef outfits, got a drum kit, some turntables, a couple of synths, grabbed the sampler — and away we went.”
Riding the success of “Girls Of The Nite” — a Radio 1 favourite and cross-genre club hit thanks to heavyweight remixes — Surreal Madrid became a fixture on the UK and European festival circuit. Reading & Leeds, Benicàssim, T In The Park and beyond cemented their reputation as electro, big and bouncy, rocking good-time merchants. Additional firepower came from Ben Owens (aka DJ B Side), and shows with Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx, Dub Pistols, Lionrock, Malcolm McLaren, All Seeing I, Freddy Fresh and many more followed. The album No More Boom Boom, produced by Colin Owens and Anthony Chapman (Collapsed Lung / DJ Scissorkicks), was released on Fused & Bruised Records.
Press said:
“The missing link between Acid House and Sonic Youth” — NME
“They say never die with too much fun in the bank — Surreal Madrid are already well overdrawn” — Melody Maker
Then came the legendary ending.
After a brutal drive home from a Polish festival — involving lost shoes, a broken-down van, a driver who quit in Germany, and total exhaustion — a Nord Synth was accidentally left on a wall in London. The band drove back to Liverpool before realising. The synth was never recovered, and Surreal Madrid quietly dissolved.
A year later, Psychic TV told a story in Q Magazine about finding a Nord Synth on a wall in London — and taking it as a sign to make more music.
Maybe it was always meant that way.
FAST FORWARD: 2026
In 2025, a conversation with James at Shiine On changed everything:
“Surreal Madrid were always a staple in our house — d’you want to play Shiine On in March 2026?”
Old hard drives were searched. The classics resurfaced. New tracks were written.
Surreal Madrid return in 2026 with:
• Chef
• DJ B Side
• The Ginger Prince
• Ken Box
• Louis “Party” Duarte
Same spirit. Same energy. Louder lessons learned.
FOR FANS OF
Funky Beats • Electro • Acid House • Rock ’n’ Roll • Electronic Chaos
There are currently no upcoming events.