Joanne Hogg - lead vocals, keyboard, acoustic guitar
Prior to Iona, Jo won a national song contest in her native Northern Ireland and toured in Russia with the band Devlin. Her first solo album ‘Looking into Light’ was released in April 1999 to critical acclaim. Three times voted ‘Best Female Vocalist’ by the ‘Classic Rock Society’. Dave Bainbridge - electric/acoustic guitar, keyboards, bouzouki
Dave began piano lessons at the age of 8 and guitar lessons from his dad at 13. Later he studied at the Leeds College of Music, gaining several performance awards (including BBC Radio 2 Best Jazz Soloist Award). At college he also developed a deep interest in recording and synthesisers.
He has worked with Jack Bruce, Buddy Guy, Gloria Gaynor, 'Snake' Davis, Paul Jones, Phil Keaggy, Michael Ball (string arranging) and (through his work as Iona producer) Maire Brennan (Clannad) and Robert Fripp. Troy Donockley - Uillean Pipes, whistles, flute, guitar, cittern bouzouki, vocals
Troy Donockley has built up a formidable reputation as both a Composer/Arranger and Musician/Performer and as a leading virtuoso of the Uilleann Pipes. Troy has worked with an impressive array of artists, including; Mostly Autumn, The Enid, Midge Ure, Kathryn Tickell, Del Amitri, the Beach Boys, Moya Brennan, Status Quo, Uriah Heep, Jennifer Cutting and Maddy Prio
Phil Barker - basses
Joined IONA in 1996. Phil is increasingly in demand as a session player and has worked with many other artists including: Grammy award winning singer Faith Hill, Kim Hill, Don Moen, Matt Redman, Paul Wilbur, Andy Piercy, Chris Eaton, Andy Park, Brian Doerksen, Liz Fitzgibbon, Paul Field, Barry & Battya Segal, Caroline Bonnett, The New Scottish Choir and Orchestra and Noel Richards.
Frank Van Essen - drums, percussion, violin, vocals
Son of a Dutch classical composer, Frank commenced violin studies at the age of seven, taking up drums at 15. Within three years he was playing with several big name Dutch and US artists including Rick Cua, Margaret Becker, Julie Miller, Susan Ashton, Marcel McArthur and Ralph van Mannen. Frank has also toured with singer-songwriter Adrian Snell, in productions also featuring his wife, dancer and singer Marlou. He is now established in Holland as a much in demand composer / producer / string arranger.
*note-This myspace site not maintained by band. However site is approved and viewed by band so please give comments because they will see and appreciate them. Also, there will be messages sent from members that will be posted. Thanks! Formed in 1989, IONA take their name from the small island off the west coast of Scotland. From the beginning, their aim has been to write spiritual, atmospheric, yet uplifting music that would stir the emotions, weaving complex patterns that echo the intricate knot work of the great Celtic artists. Often inspired by the great figures of the Celtic Golden Age such as Columba, Aidan, Brendan and Patrick, IONA’s music is as timeless as the message that reaches out to us across the centuries.
Uniquely combining rock / folk / progressive / ethnic and ambient elements with the crystalline voice of Joanne Hogg as their focus, IONA create ‘a blaze of colours and textures...all the sounds fusing into a single, yearning, heartfelt beautiful cry.’
‘IONA has carved out a unique musical niche.....creating music that is challenging and inspirational....Their music surrounds the listener, seeming to have no beginning and no end.....Book of Kells touches something
elemental, resonating as few albums can. Allow it to touch you as well.’
C.C.M. Magazine (USA)
‘Their music seems to draw from the collective memories of an entire race of people - ‘Beyond these Shores’ is all that and more. It is a modern day masterpiece.’
Bob Darden - Billboard (USA)
‘... an exhilarating contemporary folk act, able to press traditional instruments convincingly into service alongside their electric counterparts ... rarely has the new age Celtic thing been given so many welcome
twists, or played with such conviction.’
‘Q’ MAGAZINE
‘... close your eyes and prepare to sink into the atmosphere created by this magical band.’
Cornerstone Magazine (USA)
... It must be said Miss Hogg always did have a near mystical voice and in both Bainbridge and Donockley they have two musicians who know how to produce soundscapes, big, vast spaces which fill with melody and
passion.’
Simon Jones - FRoots Magazine
To order IONA CD's and DVD's go to band website. Be sure to check out the solo projects.
Dear Members of Iona Thank you for accept my invitation. Thank you for the add. I have all the albums, and great memory's of your flevo concert 1996, and the concerts in De Boerderij in Zoetermeer, Holland. I love symphonic music from Rock to Celtic music. The concerts I have seen where so great, perfect. And the members of Iona so down to earth, normal, with a great sense of humor, and deeper meaning in the lyrics. Love ya, hope to see you back soon. The new live record is perfect, and very much in my cd player. God bless: Kees (the Netherlands)
This Father would make to himself sons and daughters indeed-that is, such sons and daughters as shall be his sons and daughters not merely by having come from his heart, but by having returned thither-children in virtue of being such as whence they came, such as choose to be what he is. He will have them share in his being and nature-strong wherein he cares for strength; tender and gracious as he is tender and gracious; angry where and as he is angry. Even in the small matter of power, he will have them able to do whatever his Son Jesus could on the earth, whose was the life of the perfect man, whose works were those of perfected humanity. Everything must at length be subject to man, as it was to The Man. When God can do what he will with a man, the man may do what he will with the world; he may walk on the sea like his Lord; the deadliest thing will not he able to hurt him:-'He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater than these shall he do.'
I have loved your music since 1991.It has always lifted me up when I needed to be inspired or cheered up,not to mention it's seriously inspired my playing(thanks Dave).Thank you so much Iona! -J
thank you very, very much for your music. I dont know if i ever have the chance to hear you at some show but that would definitely make my day. You are very blessed.
Dear Iona, thank you so much for the Add! I saw you at Jubez Karlsruhe last year. It was really awesome! You are truly the most powerful band I know and you will always be my inspiring examples! Really Precious! Appreciation, Admiration and Love! All the Best, Nadine from Germany
Thanks so much for the adding me. I am a new fan to your music and I love it. I first heard about IONA because of a video game. After listening and reading the lyrics to many of the songs and where the name IONA comes from I am truly honored to have you as a friend. Dawn
Excellent music, you are a great inspiration! Thank you for being our friend. Please come check out our music and let us know what you think. Hope you do well! Rock on!
Hello Iona, thanks for add to us, nice to meet you. I like your tracks, sounds very nice!, it has much quality!. Great music!. I hope that you like our music. Regards, Jetto
hey IONA, greetings from flatwoods ky.LOVE you all truly(very anointed)hope before the LORD comes i'll see you live. have a creative and blessed year 08
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!! so much for your excellent music. I have been a fan since the self titled Iona album. You have been an inspiration to me, spiritually and musically. I tell everyone about you. I saw you at a church in New Jersey and was just blown away at how you reproduced the studio recordings. I got a chance to talk to a few of the band members and spent a while talking with Terl. It was such a great time. Worth the 5 hour drive!!!!
God Bless
Mat Kerlin of Zoa!
Please stop by and check out our music (audio and video)that we have posted on our site.
Greetings from Germany and the Dominican Republic,
God bless, Hasta la vista
Nidia
p.s.: in case you are in the mood and have a minute I would like to invite you to have a look at my new pics that were taken last week . (Nidia april 2008) Enjioy!:)
Hi from France ! Thanks a lot for the "friendship", it's a real pleasure... ...I hope you'll find a moment to listen to the tracks on my page too... A bientot !
Hello dear Friends! It's been a long time since I've been here. I can't believe how quickly time is passing by! Hope you and your families are doing well. The fact is I’ve been really busy lately I’ve just been working hard trying to make some things happen… like the whole preparations for the upcoming Video Clip shooting for the song "Children Of The Streets"… in Romania!
Romanian press reports about the shooting!
Check it out here and now directly under the following link (text on Romanian):
