Iona (band)

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Iona
Iona's current lineup promotional shot
Origin England
Country England
Years active 1990–present
Genres Celtic, Progressive
Members Joanne Hogg
Dave Bainbridge
Troy Donockley
Frank Van Essen
Phil Barker
Past members Dave Fitzgerald
Nick Beggs
Terl Bryant
Fiona Davidson
Peter Whitfield

Iona is the name of a Christian progressive (or cprog) Celtic/pop/rock band from the United Kingdom, which was formed in the late 1980s by lead vocalist Joanne Hogg and multi-instrumentalists David Fitzgerald and Dave Bainbridge.

Contents

[edit] History

By the time Iona released their first self-titled album in 1990, drummer Terl Bryant, bassist Nick Beggs (formerly the bassist of Kajagoogoo), Fiona Davidson on Celtic harp, Peter Whitfield on strings, Troy Donockley on Uillean pipes and percussionist Frank Van Essen had joined the band. The first album Iona concentrated mostly on the history of the island of Iona, from which the band got its name.

Iona returned in 1992 with The Book of Kells, a concept album with several tracks based on pages from the book of the same name. Fitzgerald left the band that year to pursue a degree in music. Beyond These Shores, the band's third album, was released in 1993 and included guest musician Robert Fripp. Terl Bryant took over on drums and percussion for this album after the departure of Frank Van Essen. The album was loosely based on the legendary voyage of St. Brendan to the Americas before Christopher Columbus, but the band did not intend for it to be viewed strictly as a "concept album."

Iona's group logo
Enlarge
Iona's group logo

Journey into the Morn followed in 1996, a more accessible and rock-oriented album loosely based on the hymn "Be Thou My Vision," which was performed in Gaelic at the beginning of the album and again near the end. Máire Brennan, lead singer of Celtic/New Age band Clannad, was brought in to help Joanne with the Gaelic pronunciation, and she sang backup vocals.

Two live albums followed in the late 1990s: the double-disc Heaven's Bright Sun and Woven Cord, which was performed with the All Souls Orchestra. Terl Bryant departed the band between these two albums, and Frank Van Essen returned to fill the vacant spot, playing drums as well as violin, which could be heard on the band's 2000 album, Open Sky.

After being released from their U.S. contract with ForeFront Records and their UK contract with Alliance Records, Iona formed Open Sky Records to release material independently. The first new release on this label was the 2002 box set The River Flows, which featured their then-out-of-print first three albums (all remastered and several first album tracks even re-recorded), as well as a fourth disc of unreleased tracks and rarities called Dunes. The first three albums have since been re-released individually, with new cover art.

The group have been in semi-hiatus for the better part of the current decade. However, 2006 saw the April release of a 2-disc live DVD Iona: Live in London, featuring a 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround mix by LA's John Kellogg, and a November release of a new studio CD entitled The Circling Hour.

[edit] Current Members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Chronological listing

[edit] Studio Recordings

[edit] Live Recordings - Audio

[edit] Live Recordings - DVD

[edit] Box Set

[edit] Other Collaborations

  • Various Artists - Songs for Luca (2003)
  • Various Artists - Songs for Luca 2 (forthcoming)

[edit] External links

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