Iona (band)

Iona is the name of a Celtic progressive 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

1 History 2 Current Members 3 Discography 3.1 Iona (1991) 3.2 The Book of Kells (1992) 3.3 Beyond These Shores (1993) 3.4 Journey into the Morn (1996) 3.5 Heaven's Bright Sun (1997 - live album) 3.6 Woven Cord (1999 - live album featuring the All Souls Orchestra) 3.7 Open Sky (2000) 3.8 The River Flows: Anthology (2002 - 4 CD box set) 4 External link

History

By the time Iona released its first self-titled album in 1990, drummer Terl Bryant, bassist Nick Beggs (formerly the vocalist 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 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."

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 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 U.K. 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 remastered versions of the group's first three albums (which were out of print at the time), as well as a fourth disc of unreleased tracks and rarities called Dunes. Several of the tracks from the band's first album were completely re-recorded for the re-release. The first three albums have since been re-released individually, with new cover art.

The group has been on hiatus for the better part of the current decade but is reportedly working on a new album to be released in 2005 or 2006.

Current Members

• Joanne Hogg - Lead vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar
• Dave Bainbridge - Lead guitar
• Troy Donockley - Pipes, whistles, flutes, guitar, and other assorted instruments
• Frank Van Essen - Drums, percussion, violin
• Phil Barker - Bass

Discography

Iona (1991)

1. Turning Tide
2. Flight of the Wild Goose
3. The Island
4. White Sands
5. Dancing on the Wall
6. A'mhachair
7. Vision of Naran
8. Beijing
9. Iona
10. Trilogy
11. Here I Stand
12. Columcille

The Book of Kells (1992)

1. Kells Opening Theme
2. Revelation
3. Matthew - The Man
4. Chi-Rho
5. Mark - The Lion
6. The River Flows
7. Luke - The Calf
8. Virgin and Child
9. Temptation
10. The Garden - Gethsemane
11. Trinity - The Godhead
12. John - The Eagle
13. Kells
14. Eternity - No Beginning, No End

Beyond These Shores (1993)

1. Prayer on the Mountain
2. Treasure
3. Brendan's Voyage (Navigato)
4. Edge of the World
5. Today
6. View of the Islands
7. Bird of Heaven
8. Murlough Bay
9. Burning Like Fire
10. Adrift
11. Beachy Head
12. Machrie Moor
13. Healing
14. Brendan's Return
15. Beyond These Shores

Journey into the Morn (1996)

1. Bi-Se I Mo Shuil Pt. 1
2. Irish Day
3. Wisdom
4. Everything Changes
5. Inside My Heart
6. Encircling
7. Journey into the Morn
8. Lindisfarne
9. No Heart Beats
10. The Search
11. Divine Presence
12. Heaven's Bright Sun
13. Bi-Se I Mo Shuil Pt. 2
14. When I Survey

Heaven's Bright Sun (1997 - live album)

• Disc One:

1. Turning Tide
2. Treasure
3. Flight of the Wild Goose
4. Today
5. Irish Day
6. Inside My Heart
7. Luke - The Calf
8. Trilogy
9. I Will Give My Love an Apple

• Disc Two:

1. The Island
2. Iona
3. Columcille
4. Heaven's Bright Sun
5. Chi-Rho
6. Bi-Se I Mo Shuil Pt. 2
7. Kells
8. Reels
9. When I Survey

Woven Cord (1999 - live album featuring the All Souls Orchestra)

1. Overture
2. Bi-Se I Mo Shuil Pt. 1
3. Matthew - The Man
4. White Sands
5. Murlough Bay
6. Dancing on the Wall
7. Encircling
8. Lindisfarne
9. Revelation
10. Woven Cord
11. Beyond These Shores

Open Sky (2000)

1. Woven Cord
2. Wave After Wave
3. Open Sky
4. Castlerigg
5. A Million Stars
6. Light Reflected
7. Hinba
8. Songs of Ascent Pt. 1
9. Songs of Ascent Pt. 2
10. Songs of Ascent Pt. 3
11. Friendship's Door

The River Flows: Anthology (2002 - 4 CD box set)

• Disc One: Iona re-release

1. Turning Tide (new version)
2. Flight of the Wild Goose (new version)
3. The Island (new version)
4. White Sands
5. Dancing on the Wall (new version)
6. A'mhachair (new version)
7. Vision of Naran (new version)
8. Beijing
9. Iona (new version)
10. Trilogy (new version)
11. Here I Stand
12. Columcille

• Disc Two: The Book of Kells re-release

1. Kells Opening Theme
2. Revelation
3. Matthew - The Man
4. Chi-Rho
5. Mark - The Lion
6. The River Flows
7. Luke - The Calf
8. Virgin and Child
9. Temptation
10. The Garden - Gethsemane
11. Trinity - The Godhead
12. John - The Eagle
13. Kells
14. Eternity - No Beginning, No End

• Disc Three: Beyond These Shores re-release

1. Prayer on the Mountain
2. Treasure
3. Brendan's Voyage (Navigato)
4. Edge of the World
5. Today
6. View of the Islands
7. Bird of Heaven
8. Murlough Bay
9. Burning Like Fire
10. Adrift
11. Beachy Head
12. Machrie Moor
13. Healing
14. Brendan's Return
15. Beyond These Shores

• Disc Four: Dunes (rare and unreleased tracks)

1. Snowdonia I: Realm of the Ravens
2. Snowdonia II: Dunes
3. Snowdonia III: Macha
4. Snowdonia IV: Dome of Harlech
5. Snowdonia V: Above the Clouds
6. Snowdonia VI: Song of the Waves
7. Snowdonia VII: Moondawn
8. Snowdonia VIII: Winter
9. Jigs
10. Hearthquake
11. Castlerigg/Reels
12. I Will Give My Love an Apple
13. Song of the Waves (Reprise)
14. The Final Journey

External link

• Official website (http://www.iona.uk.com)de:Iona (Band)