Matthew Edwards (musician)

Originally from Small Heath,{{Cite web |title=Matthew Edwards |url=https://www.stereographics.fr/essentiels-de-matthew-edwards/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Stereographics |language=en-US}} Birmingham,{{Cite web |last=Mach © |first=Neil |date=2014-10-23 |title=Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates |url=https://rawramp.me/2014/10/23/matthew-edwards-and-the-unfortunates/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=RAW RAMP |language=en}} England,{{Cite web |date=2022-09-17 |title=Wolf Jett - LIVE ON THE WATERFRONT |url=https://www.pspharbor.com/live-events/wolf-jett |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Point San Pablo Harbor |language=en-US}} Edwards managed to go to university to study English Literature.{{Cite web |last=Janes |first=Steve |date=2017-04-13 |title=Matthew Edwards & the Unfortunates share new track from 'Folklore', out via Gare Du Nord Records • WithGuitars |url=https://www.withguitars.com/matthew-edwards-unfortunates-share-new-track-folklore-via-gare-du-nord-records/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |language=en-GB}} In 1991, Edwards left his hometown and relocated to San Francisco,{{Cite web |date=2009-01-28 |title=The Music Lovers: Masculine Feminine, PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/69233-the-music-lovers-masculine-feminine-2496072730.html |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=PopMatters |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Malakoff |first=Ville de |title=Pauline Drand et Matthew Edwards |url=https://www.malakoff.fr/51-1644/agenda/fiche/pauline-drand-et-matthew-edwards.htm,%20https://www.malakoff.fr/51-1644/agenda/fiche/pauline-drand-et-matthew-edwards.htm |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Ville de Malakoff |language=fr}} California, where he worked as a compere in the city's premier 'variety' evening at The Mad Dog.{{Cite web |last=Janes |first=Steve |date=2014-10-31 |title=Stream the new Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates New album 'The Fates' • WithGuitars |url=https://www.withguitars.com/stream-new-matthew-edwards-unfortunates-new-album-fates/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |language=en-GB}}

Edwards' rock band The Hairdressers released the album 'Our Lives in Showbusiness' in 1999.{{Cite web |title=The Hairdressers |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/6563930-The-Hairdressers |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Discogs |language=ja}}

While working as an MC, Edwards met bassist Jon Brooder and added Paul Comaskey on drums, completing the first lineup of the band.{{Cite web |last=Hopkin |first=Kenyon |title=The Music Lovers Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-music-lovers-mn0000472068 |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} In 2003, Edwards formed The Music Lovers for whom he was the singer, guitarist, and songwriter.{{Cite web |last=Varkentine |first=Ben |date=2004-10-27 |title=The Music Lovers |url=https://ink19.com/2004/10/magazine/music-reviews/zov1nn-the-music-lovers |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Ink 19 |language=en-US}} Between 2003 and 2009, Edwards released three albums and an EP on Le Grand Magistery Records out of Detroit, Michigan. The albums were also released in Japan (Enogh-Ho) and Italy (Sleeping Star). The band toured the East and West Coast of the US and Italy. The records each had distinctive sleeves designed by Matthew Jacobson and featuring images by Albert and David Maysles, Elliott Erwitt, and Alan Crawford. The records received much critical acclaim. Edwards dissolved the band in 2010.

After previously led The Music Lovers, Edwards formed the Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates, a six-piece group from San Francisco, California, which featured current and previous members of Ladybug Transistor, Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound, and The Music Lovers.{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-07-20 |title=DozenQ – Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates – eyeplug.net/magazine |url=https://www.eyeplug.net/magazine/dozenq-matthew-edwards-and-the-unfortunates/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=www.eyeplug.net |language=en-US}} It is said that Edwards' accompanying band, The Unfortunates, borrowed its name from the cult book by English writer B.S. Johnson.{{Cite web |last=jmberry |date=2012-09-07 |title=Dance for the troops at the Moose Lodge |url=https://sonomamusic.com/dance-for-the-troops-at-the-moose-lodge/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Sonoma Music Scene |language=en-US}}

In 2013, Edwards formed Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates. The first Unfortunates album 'The Fates' (2013) was released by Last Tape Recordings (CA) and was produced by Eric Drew Feldman (PJ Harvey, Captain Beefheart) who also contributed keyboards. It was recorded at Ex'pression in Emeryville, California.{{Cite web |last=Arabpour |first=Reza |date=2019-03-05 |title=Impressions of a Birmingham Poet: Matthew Edwards |url=https://brumradio.com/impressions-of-a-birmingham-poet-matthew-edwards/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Brum Radio |language=en-US}} The album featured Fred Frith on Guitar.{{Cite web |title=Matthew Edwards & The Unfortunates - The Fates, by Matthew Edwards & The Unfortunates |url=https://metalpostcard.bandcamp.com/album/matthew-edwards-the-unfortunates-the-fates |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=metal postcard records |language=en}} Also featuring on keyboards and vocals was Sasha Bell from the group The Essex Green. The sleeve was designed by American artist Rex Ray.

In 2014, Edwards relocated to his hometown of Birmingham, England and convened the UK version of the band. This group recorded the Unfortunates second album 'Folklore' which was released by Gare Du Nord (Ian Button) in June 2017. Like its predecessor it included the contribution of Fred Frith (Robert Wyatt, Eno), and Dagmar Krause (Slapp Happy, Henry Cow).{{Cite web |title=MATTHEW EDWARDS & THE UNFORTUNATES {{!}} IT |url=https://internationaltimes.it/matthew-edwards-the-unfortunates/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=internationaltimes.it}} The album was recorded and mixed by John A. Rivers{{Cite web |title=MATTHEW EDWARDS AND THE UNFORTUNATES - FOLKLORE LAUNCH |url=http://www.adriangoldberg.com/1/archives/06-2017 |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=ADRIAN GOLDBERG'S BLOG |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=MADAM, Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates, Papernut Cambridge // Paper Dress Vintage Bar & Boutique, London |url=https://paperdressvintage.co.uk/madam-matthew-edwards-and-the-unfortunates-papernut-cambridge |access-date=2023-11-25}} at Woodbine Street Recording Studio.{{Cite web |title=Discography – Woodbine Street Professional Protools Recording Studio |url=https://woodbinestreet.com/discography/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=woodbinestreet.com}}

In 2019, the group signed to Parisian label December Square who released their third album 'The Birmingham Poets.' Edwards promoted the record with tours of France and the UK (with Nouvelle Vague). The album featured the contribution of Dagmar Krause. The group also appeared with Robyn Hitchcock and The Unthanks.

Edwards led the Unfortunates from 2013 to 2020 in San Francisco and England.

Edwards reinvented the group after the death of close collaborator Derick Simmonds and his relocation back to California after five years in his native Birmingham. In June 2020, the Futurists released a 'The First Song of the Revolution' EP on British record label Static Caravan Records.{{Cite web |title=Static Caravan Recordings VAN 348 - Matthew Edwards and The Futurists - The First Song of the Revolution |url=http://www.staticcaravan.org/item.asp?Ref=348 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=www.staticcaravan.org}}{{Cite web |title=Matthew Edwards And The Futurists |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/9545218-Matthew-Edwards-And-The-Futurists |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Discogs |language=en}}

• 1999 – 'Our Lives in Showbusiness' – Musette Records. MUS4

• 2003 – 'Cheap Songs Tell the Truth' (EP) – Le Grand Magistery/Marriage Records iDo-3
• 2004 – 'The Words We Say Before We Sleep' – Le Grand Magistery/Marriage Records iDo-4
• 2006 – 'The Music Lovers Guide for Young People' – Le Grand Magistery Records (US) HRH-038, Enougho (JA)
• 2009 - 'Masculine Feminine' – Le Grand Magistery Records HRH-046 (US) Sleeping Star (IT)

• 2013 – 'The Fates' (Last Tape Recordings) LTR02 CD (Metal
• 2015 – 'Minotaur/Bad Blood' 7-inch single (Metal Postcard Records) MP92{{Cite web |title=Matthew Edwards & The Unfortunates Minotaur / Bad Blood 7" Single |url=https://bottomofthepops.com/store/Matthew-Edwards-&-The-Unfortunates-Minotaur-Bad-Blood-7-Single-p33017100 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Bottom of the Pops |language=en-US}}
• 2017 – 'Folklore' (Gare Du Nord Records) GDNLPo14
• 2019 – 'The Birmingham Poets' (December Square Records FR) DESQ002

• 2020 – 'The First Song of the Revolution' EP (Static Caravan Records) VAN 348

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Category:Living people

Category:English male singer-songwriters

Category:English male musicians

Category:English male guitarists

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)