Edward II (band)
Encyclopedia
Edward II is an English band named for King Edward II
, which play a fusion of world music
, English folk and reggae
. Active from 1985, the band broke up after losing several key members in 1999, relaunching as "e2K" in 2000. In 2003, the band dissolved once more, but have since reformed for a one year reunion tour in 2009 under the "Edward II" name, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the breakup of the original band.
, which contained several reggae inspired instrumentals and is usually considered the highpoint for the original line up. However, it was as a live act that they made their name with a series of gigs at festivals throughout the UK and Europe. Further additions to the fluid line-up during the late 80s included Neil Yates (trumpet), Lorna Bailey (vocals), John Hart (trombone), Gavin Sharp (tenor saxophone), and Alton Zebby (drums), all of who made their début on the second album Two Step To Heaven (1989).
and one of these performances was released on CD entitled Live at Cropredy (2000). After a ‘sell out’ gig at De Montfort Hall
, Leicester on 19 November 1999, Zebby, Latouche, and Carthy elected to leave the band, and this line-up dissolved.
. The new infusion of African and traditional British folk influences re-energized the band for two more albums: Shift ( 2001) and If Not Now (2003). Devotees may feel that this line up could not recapture the originality and vitality of the EII days, but they won some appreciation of their music, being described as ‘a multicultural group for the 21st century'. The lineup dissolved after a tour in 2003.
A double-disc 'best-of' album was also released in 2009, Edward II: The Definitive Collection. It uses the 'Edward II' name but covers the band's entire career under all of their names. Disc 1 includes songs from their time as Edward the Second and the Red Hot Polkas, whilst Disc 2 includes songs from their time as Edward II.
As Edward II
As E2k
Compilation appearances
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
, which play a fusion of world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
, English folk and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
. Active from 1985, the band broke up after losing several key members in 1999, relaunching as "e2K" in 2000. In 2003, the band dissolved once more, but have since reformed for a one year reunion tour in 2009 under the "Edward II" name, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the breakup of the original band.
Edward the Second and the Red Hot Polkas
The band formed in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1984. The original line-up of Edward The Second And The Red Hot Polkas featured Tom Greenhalgh (guitar/vocals), Jon Moore (guitar/vocals), Barney Stradling (guitar), John Gill (bass), Steve Goulding (drums), Danny Stradling (percussion), Rod Stradling (melodeon), and Dave Haines (melodeon). The band made their recording debut in 1987 with Let's Polka Steady!, with British dub producer Mad ProfessorMad Professor
Mad Professor is a dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music’s second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He is a prolific producer, contributing to or...
, which contained several reggae inspired instrumentals and is usually considered the highpoint for the original line up. However, it was as a live act that they made their name with a series of gigs at festivals throughout the UK and Europe. Further additions to the fluid line-up during the late 80s included Neil Yates (trumpet), Lorna Bailey (vocals), John Hart (trombone), Gavin Sharp (tenor saxophone), and Alton Zebby (drums), all of who made their début on the second album Two Step To Heaven (1989).
Edward II
At the start of the 90s the band shortened their name to Edward II and then EII, with Moore, Yates and Zebby joined by new members Tee Carthy (bass), Glen Latouche (vocals), Rees Wesson (melodeon/accordion), and rapper McKilla on 1991's Wicked Men. Ex-Albion Band member Simon Care (melodeon) joined Edward II in the mid-90s, featuring on the studio albums Zest and This Way Up. The last of these featured some pure reggae tunes, including ‘Don't Let the Fire Go Out’, but the album still retrained more-culturally blended songs. The band performed twice at the Cropredy Folk Festival, held every year by Fairport ConventionFairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
and one of these performances was released on CD entitled Live at Cropredy (2000). After a ‘sell out’ gig at De Montfort Hall
De Montfort Hall
De Montfort Hall is a music and performance venue in Leicester, England. It is situated adjacent to Victoria Park and is named after Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester.-History:...
, Leicester on 19 November 1999, Zebby, Latouche, and Carthy elected to leave the band, and this line-up dissolved.
e2K
Moore, Yates, and Care re-launched the band in the new millennium as e2K, bringing in Ghanaian instrumentalist Kwame Yeboah, and Albion Band lead singer and guitarist Kellie WhileKellie While
Kellie While is a British singer-songwriter considered to have one of the outstanding voices of her generation. She has been a member of some of the most influential and innovative British folk groups of her era, is a much sought after contributor to the work of major artists and has emerged in...
. The new infusion of African and traditional British folk influences re-energized the band for two more albums: Shift ( 2001) and If Not Now (2003). Devotees may feel that this line up could not recapture the originality and vitality of the EII days, but they won some appreciation of their music, being described as ‘a multicultural group for the 21st century'. The lineup dissolved after a tour in 2003.
Reunion
To celebrate the ten year anniversary of their final gig, the last line-up of EII undertook a series of reunion gigs in 2009.A double-disc 'best-of' album was also released in 2009, Edward II: The Definitive Collection. It uses the 'Edward II' name but covers the band's entire career under all of their names. Disc 1 includes songs from their time as Edward the Second and the Red Hot Polkas, whilst Disc 2 includes songs from their time as Edward II.
Band members
Martin Brinsford (percussion), Rod Stradling (Melodeon), Danny Stradling (percussion), Dave Haines (melodeon, melodica, bass clarinet), John Gill (Bass), Tee Carthy (Bass), Glen Latouche (vocals), Gavin Sharp (Saxophone, Keyboard, John Hart (Trombone), Simon Care (Melodeon), Neil Yates (Trumpet, Guitar), Jon Moore (Guitar), Alton Zebby (Drums), Steve Goulding (Drum), Tom Greehalgh (Guitar), Barney Stradling (Guitar), Lorna Bailey (vocals), MvKilla (Rap), Rees Wesson (Melodeon, Melodica, Backing Vocals), Neil Fairclough (Bass), Pat Illingworth (Drum), Andy Morel (Saxophone), Kellie While (vocals), Kwame Yeboah (vocals), Gareth Warren (Melodeon, Paul Francis (Drum), Robert Fordjour (Drum).Discography
As Edward The Second and The Red Hot Polkas- Let's Polkasteady! (Cooking Vinyl, 1987)
- Two Step to Heaven (Cooking Vinyl, 1989)
As Edward II
- Wicked Men (Pure Bliss, 1991)
- Zest (Zest, 1996)
- This Way Up (Ock, 1998)
- Live at Cropredy (Ock, 2000)
- Edward II: The Definitive Collection (Cadiz Music Ltd, 2009)
As E2k
- Shift (Topic, 2001)
- If Not Now (Topic, 2003)
Compilation appearances
- The Cutting Edge: A Selection of Contemporary British Roots Music (Cooking Vinyl, 1987) (song: "The Walls of Butlins")
- Reggae Sampler Vol. II (Adventures in Music, 1992) (song: "She's Gone to California")
- The Rough Guide to English Roots Music (World Music Network, 1998) (song: "Brilliant Pebbles")
- An Anthology: The Boxset (Album by Simon Care, 2002) (song: "Brilliant Pebbles" with Simon Care)
- BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2010 (PMD, 2010) (song: "People Get Ready")