Dave Edwards

Worth searching out coz this lo-fi singer/songwriter oddball has a unique take on the genre… [he’s] happy to get raucous & obnoxious in just the right kinda way.”Chris Knox
Dave Edwards, recording ‘Scratched Surface’ circa 1997

This page refers to projects under my own name.

For collaborations see here

For my non-linear alter-ego and a stylistic departure since 2005 see Dave Black.

“Dave Edwards music is an unconstrained, free flowing piece of art. An artist unafraid to express his messages in an unconventional manner. This leads to an authentic, unique experience.”Elizabeth Wheeler
the yin of acoustic

and electric yang

in 2022,

Poems & Lyrics by John Collie (1856)

a 19th century epic acoustic work-in-progress
“If aught can claim a spirit’s admiration, Sure it must be this beautiful creation.” John Collie (1834-1893)
“I am too conscious of my own inferiority to flatter myself with public plaudits; for works of deathless worth in comparison with my unpresuming volume have been buffeted amidst the rocks of criticism until they fell asleep in the arms of oblivion to be heard of no more.” – John Collie (1834-1893)
John Collie’s poem ‘Solitude‘ also featured on

Psi-solation: a global compilation of music made in lockdown (2020)

“Something about this global pandemic is inspiring people to create and/or curate art on a massive scale…. and this compilation, being offered for free/name-yr-price, is indeed M A S S I V E.” – Howard Seltzer
In recent years I’ve been living in smalltown New Zealand, and playing solo acoustic.

Live 2019

Solo acoustic set plus an interview, live streamed from Wairarapa TV
“Great skills and a refreshing rebirth of a beatnik sensibility, this is folk the way folk should be” – Andi Verse
20 years prior, here’s a a lo-fi solo postpunk ‘official bootleg’ recorded (or half my lifetime) ago – opening for Chris Knox at Bar Bodega in Wellington NZ last millennium:

Live 1999

“If only I could play guitar like that… bastard” – Chris Knox

Dave Edwards works include

Gleefully Unknown: 1997-2005

vol1 – songs, spoken word and instrumental improvisations from the early phase of my gloriously unsuccessful career, by Dave Edwards with The Winter, Ascension Band, plus Chris O’Connor, Paul Winstanley, Simon O’Rorke, Chris Palmer, Sam Prebble, Francesca Mountfort and more
Rough outsider folk-blues mysteries, dissonant rock textures, electric and acoustic improvisations… Edwards strikes me as one of the most overlooked musicians from the fertile lands of New Zealand and if you need a fresh start this might very well be the place.” The Broken Face

Loose Autumn Moans (2003)

Sam Prebble & Mike Kingston, 2003
Semi-acoustic songs with string section, recorded on all-analogue equipment, by Dave Edwards, with Sam Prebble, Mike Kingston, and Simon Sweetman (2003)
“Here Wellington, NZ composer Dave Edwards mostly goes it solo with some able assistance from duo or trio the Winter. Guitars, violin, cello, and percussion all stack up… He’s got a persona that’s all his own.”– George Parsons, Dream Magazine #5

After the Filmshoot (2002)

Dave Edwards further solo postpunk spoken word free improv guitar spasms (2002) [send us your review] Mantis Shaped & Worrying (2002)

Mantis Shaped & Worrying (2002)

The difficult third album, an idiosyncratic spoken word + instrumental voyage into inner space, by Dave Edwards with Simon O’Rorke (2002) –
“Four tracks over 45 minutes allow the artist suitable space for his forum of spoken word and instrumental colour, with the latter lurching from acoustic strums to occasional cacophony. On the final track, ‘Revenge of the Smur‘ Edwards uses a primarily percussive accompaniment whose impact is as dramatic as his wordplay”Real Groove

The Marion Flow (part 2, Wellington, 2001)

Electric and acoustic songs, spoken word and instrumentals – an almost-recognised New Zealand classic, by Dave Edwards with Chris O’Connor, Paul Winstanley, Simon O’Rorke, Chris Palmer, Joe Callwood, and Dean Brown (2001)
Edwards’ music is often a sculpture rather than a melodic composition. Within this chosen form, amongst all the writings rantings & poetry there’s much difficult pleasure to be had for the musically adventurous.” – Brent Cardy, Real Groove, July 2002

Live 1999

Solo postpunk live at the old Bar Bodega, Wellington NZ, opening for Chris Knox
“If only I could play guitar like that… bastard” – Chris Knox

Before moving back to Wellington my birthplace (I’m a sixth-generation pakeha New Zealander), I grew up in New Plymouth, – near the sleeping volcano Mt Taranaki, rolling green hills, and black sand beaches with surf pounding on the shore of the Tasman. .

Mt Taranaki, NZ
Dave Edwards at Patuha Acoustic Music Festival, Taranaki, 1998

The Marion Flow (part 1, Taranaki, 1999).

Electric and acoustic songs, spoken word and instrumentals – an almost-recognised New Zealand classic, by Dave Edwards with Paul Winstanley, the Digitator, Steve Duffels, and Brian Wafer (1999)
It’s lo-fi, organic and about as eclectic as one could manage. Kind of reminds me of Nick Cave if he had grown up in Timaru. No pretentious American accents or catch phrase choruses, just a bunch of people making music. A little beauty!” – NZ Musician, August/September 2002

Scratched Surface (1998)

The debut album – a genuine 1990s no-budget lo-fi postpunk singer/songwriter artifact from New Plymouth, by Dave Edwards with Tim McVicar (1997-1998)
“Worth searching out coz this lo-fi singer/songwriter oddball has a unique take on the genre. He’s pissed off, a tad fucked up (as usual), but not full of lugubrious self-pity (as unusual) and is happy to get raucous & obnoxious in just the right kinda way.”Chris Knox

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