Bass music has no shortage of rule breakers, but few artists tear up the blueprint quite like Father Funk. The UK born, Vancouver-based producer and multi-instrumentalist has built a reputation for fusing blistering bass, punk-leaning attitude, and cinematic musicianship into something that refuses to sit still. With his new album Funk The System, he pushes that philosophy to its wildest heights yet.

Now, he brings that same firepower to Denver on December 18 for his debut headline show in the city at Cervantes’ Other Side. For Colorado bass heads, this one is more than just another tour stop. It is a chance to see an artist who has spent years quietly shaping his own lane, finally stepping into a room built for the kind of energy he thrives on.

Father Funk’s new album is a statement piece in every sense. A ten track riot of dubstep, drum and bass, hip hop swagger, brass sections, guitar solos, talkbox riffs, and enough attitude to shake a system that often rewards trends over truth. Across the record, you can feel his background in punk and ska bands bleeding through the mix. These songs are written like actual songs, built with intent, structure, and musicianship, not just the expected build and drop cycle.

His approach mirrors the attitude behind the album: independence, rebellion, and doing everything for the love of the craft. No label. No machine. Just pure creative instinct.

Denver is the perfect city for this moment. The bass community here mirrors Father Funk’s ethos: passionate, genre bending, rowdy, loyal, and hungry for artists who treat the stage like a living, breathing organism. He has felt that energy before, opening for The Floozies at Mission Ballroom in 2024, and now he steps into his own spotlight at one of the most beloved rooms in the city.

The December 18 show also arrives right in the middle of his global Funk The System Tour, which has already spanned North America and the UK. Expect unreleased weapons, live instrumentation woven into the chaos, and a set that kicks in from the very first second. Because if there is one thing Father Funk does better than almost anyone, it is crafting an intro that immediately announces exactly what kind of ride you are about to be on.

Below, Father Funk tells Rooster about independence, punk roots, Denver energy, and why Funk The System marks the start of a louder, bolder chapter.

[Rooster]: Your Funk The System tour is bringing you to Denver for your debut headline in the city at Cervantes’ Other Side. What makes this stop stand out for you on the tour?

[Father Funk]: Denver is such a mecca for bass music in North America so it’s super exciting to be playing my first headline show there. My first time in Denver was in 2024, opening for The Floozies at Mission Ballroom. It was an epic show and it blew my mind seeing the funky bass thing on that scale. I can’t wait to tap into that energy!

You’ve called Funk The System a rebellion against the formulaic direction of modern electronic music. What moment or feeling pushed you to say, “Alright, time to swing back”?

My music has always been quite different to what most people are doing. I’m just making the music I want to hear. The themes of rebellion tied to this album are more born out of my frustration at the industry than at the music itself.

It’s a hard time to be an artist, especially if you’re actually trying to make art. No one will tell you that making an album is a good idea but I said fuck it, this is what I want to do and this is how I want my these songs to be experienced as part of a bigger body of work.

This album blends live instrumentation with heavy electronic production in a way that feels rare in bass music. How does your background in punk, ska, and band culture show up in these new tracks?

It’s a huge part of the sound of this album. I’ve always loved incorporating different genres within my music. That used to mean bootlegging or sampling other people’s music, but in the last few years I’ve been a lot more focused on making music that’s 100 percent original. It’s a lot more work, and it can be hard to get the same energy and feelings of nostalgia when you’re making everything from scratch, but I think I’m finally starting to nail it and it feels really good.

You’ve mentioned that this record is you taking the power back with no label and no fancy machine behind you. What did full independence actually feel like day to day while making this thing?

I mean that’s just how I’ve always lived my life to be honest. I’ve always done things my own way and it’s a miracle it’s got me this far. I don’t take that for granted. Even when I’ve worked with labels in the past I’ve never let them intervene in the artistic process. That part is sacred to me. It’s not necessarily the smart way to do things but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

A lot of the reason for doing this independently was about ownership too. I’m not gonna spend a whole year writing an album just to give 50 percent of it away to a label for making a couple of posts on social media. That’s insanity.

Funk The System avoids the build and drop template that dominates bass music right now. When you sit down to create, how do you keep yourself from falling into that expected pattern?

I wouldn’t say I’m avoiding the typical structure of bass music entirely. I’m always writing music with my DJ set in mind so there’s only so much room for experimentation as far as that’s concerned.

I quite like the challenge of writing music that adheres to a DJ friendly structure yet stays interesting and holds people’s attention all the way through. For example I don’t want a breakdown to just be a gap in between drops, so that’s often where I’ll put a chorus or a lead part. There’s more to music than build ups and drops and songwriting is something I take very seriously.

Denver has one of the most passionate bass communities in the world. Have you felt that energy already, and what are you hoping the room feels like when you step onstage at Cervantes?

Hell yeah. As I mentioned earlier, playing with The Floozies was epic. I was opening and even then I could feel such a great energy from the crowd. It was a blast. If Cervantes can be anything like that I’ll be happy!

You’ve played everything from Shambhala to Glastonbury. When you think about where your sound is heading after this album, what’s pulling you forward creatively?

That’s a great question. Honestly I’m so inspired by a lot of the music that’s coming out right now. I feel like I’m finally excited about a lot of current electronic music. That isn’t always the case sometimes I’m not even listening to electronic music at all outside of the studio.

I’m just stoked to take the Father Funk sound as far as I can. I’ve grown so much as an artist, a producer and as a person since I started this project. Who knows what’s around the corner.

If someone brings a friend to a Father Funk show for the first time, what’s the moment in your set that you hope makes them say, “Alright… I get it now”?

I think they’d catch on pretty quickly. I’ve always been a big intro guy. I love writing epic intros and I almost always start my set with something brand new. It’s my chance to let everyone know exactly what I’m about and what’s about to go down.

Once the Denver show is wrapped, what does the next chapter of Funk The System look like? More music, more touring, more rebellion?

Pretty much! I’m definitely looking forward to doing more US shows in the near future and that’s where I’m putting a lot of my energy right now. It’s super exciting to be playing so many new places.

Music wise I’ve already established what the next chapter of Father Funk is going to sound like, so I’m just pumped to get stuck into that and start releasing more new music in 2026.

Cover Photo Credit / @michalstraz