September the 1st 2016

Hello Friends of the Unfortunates,

If you have accessed this blog/news page via our web-site I must apologise for the lack of recent information. We have not expired, nor fallen into a trance, rather we have simply been completing “Folklore” and not playing many shows. This will soon change… In November I am playing two solo shows in London and full-group shows in London and Birmingham.

Here is the sleeve for “Folklore” – Picture by Gary Alan Jones and layout by David Twist. We are also starting to work on some short films to coincide with the records release (early 2017).

In October/November I am playing two solo shows in London and full-group shows in London and Birmingham. Full dates are coming soon but one I can reveal is Friday November 4th at Paper Dress in London with MADAM and Papernut Cambridge.

A brand new website will be up in the next month.

Much love to you all and much more news soon

Matthew

September 1st 2016

 

Happening.

All recording has been completed on our next record ‘Folklore’ – It is now in the hands of Eric Drew Feldman who will begin mixing in San Francisco very soon. I was beyond delighted to spend a day in the studio last week with possibly my favorite living singer who added vocals to two songs

In the near future we have a performance in London at Servants Jazz Quarters in Dalston on Thursday March the 3rd. We play first at 9PM sharp followed by our friends Rotifer.

More news soon. Much Love. ME. February 16th 2016

Photograph by Gary Alan Jones

 

Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates are…

… a melancholy pop group based in Birmingham, England and San Francisco, California. The groups debut album ‘The Fates’ was released on San Francisco vinyl only label Last Tape Recordings in Spring 2014 and re-released by Metal Postcard records on CD in December 2014 to much critical acclaim. The record was produced by regular PJ Harvey collaborator Eric Drew Feldman. It garnered high praise.

The group play concerts in England and beyond and the follow-up to ‘The Fates’ entitled ‘Folklore’ will be released on Metal Postcard in September 2016.

‘Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates: Passing out at dinner parties since 2011’

My Life In Showbusiness #1.

I was recently asked to list all the records I have made and a little about each:

1999, ‘Our Lives In Showbusiness’ The Hairdressers

I was signed to a West Coast jazz label M_____ Records (I refuse to acknowledge their name) for one album with my group The Hairdressers. They gave me a little dosh and a free reign so I decamped to Jesse Colin Young’s studio up in Point Reyes and recorded the whole thing pretty much live to tape… Then I waited and waited, then eventually it was released. One week later the label went bankrupt. Oh well. It sports a

lovely cover by my friend Rex Ray and three or four beautiful but rather unkempt songs ( I was in a fevered place during it’s creation, ha!). It garnered a single review in an auspicious LA fanzine where it garnered mind-bogglingly over the top praise. Then, nothing.

Postscript: Later I bought the rights and remaining stock off one of the original directors of the company: I literally cornered him in a parking lot with the paperwork and paid him cash.

It is available from me for P&P. Do not buy it on Amazon for $35!

Next: The Music Lovers on The Le Grand Magistery

 

Buying ‘The Fates’

It was brought to our attention just this past weekend that some folks have found purchasing ‘The Fates’ difficult? So, to clarify it can be purchased in 3 formats at a couple of locations:

The CD and download is available at our record labels Bandcamp page:

https://metalpostcard.bandcamp.com/album/matthew-edwards-the-unfortunates-the-fates

The CD and the vinyl LP is available from us directly on our website:

http://www.matthewedwardsandtheunfortunates.com/RECORD.html

Please be aware that I only have 8 vinyl copies of ‘The Fates’ left. It was a limited edition of 300 with and litho sleeve by Rex Ray.

Another way to purchase is at a show… Thank you for your purchases.

Next.

This has been an odd and unsettling year, one filled with losses but not without joy. I lost my father, an artist friend, and a brilliant impresario and huge influence on my younger self.

In an attempt to spread some bliss before Winter we are playing a free show in Birmingham in-between recording sessions for ‘Folklore.’ On Thursday September 10th we will be performing at the Spotted Dog, 104 Warwick Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. Joining us will be DJ Dylan and we will be onstage about 9.30PM. This is an extended set with at least one (perhaps two) special guests.

I invite you to join us.

Matthew.

Here is a man breathing fire…

This Summer: 2015

Hello,

What a very strange and unsettling Spring it has been.

My hope is that Summer brings us some joy. The Unfortunates have the following shows booked with at least 2/3 more to be announced:

Saturday June the 6th – The LUNAR festival in Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire. We perform at 1.45PM on the tent stage. Tanworth is the birthplace of Nick Drake so we will be performing a Nick Drake cover in homage.

http://lunarfestival.co.uk/line-up/day/saturday-6th-june/

Saturday July 4th – The Betsey Trotwood, Clerkenwell, London. Ghurbir Dhillon’s East/West night presents a night in celebration of Independence Day with ourselves and Peter Astor (Weather Prophets). 8PM.

https://plus.google.com/118265979073212488193/about?gl=uk&hl=en

Friday July 31st – Viracocha, 998 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA. The US version of the Unfortunates reconvenes for a ‘hometown’ show at one of our favorite places. Opening is my dear friend Larry Gallagher and a surprise appearance by another of our best pals… 8PM.

There is another CA show to be announced soon: A mystery trip of sorts.

Work continues on the follow up to ‘The Fates’ provisionally titled ‘Folklore’ – I’ll be handing the hard-drives over to Eric Drew Feldman in July so he can mercilessly molest my vision.

I hope we see you at a show this Summer? In the meantime he’s a picture of some situationists.

Matthew