Edward II

Edward II

Edward II is a British folk and world music group from Cheltenham, formed in 1984. The band is also known as EII, and has previously used the names Edward the Second, the Red Hot Polkas and e2K.

Its music combines Caribbean dance rhythms with English country dance tunes. The group breaks up after losing several key members in 1999, then relaunches as e2K in 2000. It dissolves again in 2003.

Edward II reforms in late 2008 for a one-year reunion tour in 2009, marking the tenth anniversary of the original split. It reforms again in 2015 to work on the Manchester’s Improving Daily project, which includes new recorded material, the album Manchester’s Improving Daily and a book. John Gill is a member of the group.