Edward II is an English roots band known for uniquely blending the rhythms of the Caribbean with traditional songs from the British Isles.
Back in the nineties the band was signed to Cooking Vinyl Records and Rhythm Safari in the US. They worked extensively across the globe touring world music, reggae and folk festivals on almost every continent before finally calling it a day in 1999.
In 2016 the band came back and released a brand new CD called ‘Manchester’s Improving Daily’. The album received a plethora of positive reviews, including Four Stars in both Mojo Magazine and The Guardian.
The band followed up by working on a set of tunes collected from the fields of Jamaica (by landowner Walter Jekyll) at the start of the last century and later immortalised by the Jamaican poet, folklorist, writer, and educator Louise Bennett-Coverley (more commonly known as Miss Lou), who originally recorded many of the songs in the 1960s.
The new material was released in early 2021, titled Dancing Tunes and the band appeared at a number of UK festivals throughout 2023, performing the new songs and re-visiting many of the old throughout the summer.
The band are now heading back out in summer 2027 playing material from all of their extensive back catalogue – get ready for an E2 party!!!
