Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear: Live in the StudioBand News
14th December 2018
A Special message from Frank van Essen.
4th December 2018
Healing Stories From Lesvos
19th November 2018
18+ years after the Iona recording of this wonderful tune, I decided to record a new, improvised version with Dave Bainbridge. Listen to the full version at www.frankvanessen.com and enjoy SANCTUM
The melody of A Million Stars has been with me since my teens. It's one of those tunes that just "happened" one day while improvising on my own, and has never left me. One day I played it for Dave & Troy and they loved it, so that's how it ended up on the Iona album Open Sky. It's great to hear how the years have shaped the melody and both Dave's and my playing. The version on SANCTUM is as we improvised it in the studio, with a few minor edits, but it's very spontaneous and inspired. Hope you enjoy it. - Frank
13th November 2018
Frank van Essen's SANCTUM is out now! Very excited to share it with you. With Dave Bainbridge, Troy Donockley and bass legend Jimmy Johnson, this is an album you don´t want to miss! Check it out on www.frankvanessen.com - and please share!
26th October 2018
A small preview of Frank van Essen's S A N C T U M. The downloadable version will be available on the 25th via www.frankvanessen.com
26th October 2018
10/25/2018
19th October 2018
BACK IN THE STUDIO......
Well, the 3 Peaks in 1 day was completed and I’m not sure of the exact total of funds raised, but it was amazing. Thanks so much to all of you who supported us. I hope to be returning to the camp on Lesbos next month so I’ll keep you posted on that. In the meantime, I’m trying to finish the songs for Road From Ruin. They wouldn’t be complete without the lovely Gwyneth playing cello 😁.
22nd September 2018
Two peaks done. One more plus getting down from number two! Weather has been great 👍
1st October 2018
Hi folks. The three peaks challenge is looming! Two days away. Yesterday I was back in Copper House studio with mate Stu Reid , working on three new songs for my interlude EP( between MAP Project Parts 1&2). It will have 4 new tracks and I’m going to add 3 from Uncountable Stars , on a similar theme. The new songs have been inspired by some personal accounts of refugee experiences. This will be exclusively a fundraising non profit project.
If you’d like to support the 3 Peaks challenge for charity R.A.I.N ( Refugee Aid International Network) that I continue my involvement with, then you can use the link below.
http://bit.ly/RAINdonation
Thankyou again.
I’ll keep you posted on everything! ⛰🎶
Ps. The picture was taken yesterday as Storm Ali hit our north coast!
14th September 2018
30th August 2018
12th June 2018
A few images from my recent trip to Lesvos island , Greece. There are close to 8000 refugees stuck here. Some have lived through two winters in this place. The sense of despair is so real and some surveys have revealed that one in three people , including children, have witnessed someone commit suicide in these environments. The conditions are difficult to convey and their experiences impossible to imagine. On this trip , we discovered several Christian voluntary groups doing incredible work to try and alleviate the suffering, but resources are scarce and the numbers continue to increase. A thousand more refugees, mostly Syrian arrived on the island in April, the same in May..... and so it goes on. A team of us will return in two weeks though this time , I’m unable to go. I’m planning another hiking adventure in a couple of months to fundraise but I will give details nearer the time. Please continue to prayerfully remember these folk , refugees and volunteers.
12th June 2018
13th August 2018
Thought you would enjoy watching this video of me recording drums for Labyrinth, a new track for my solo album. There is a section in there calles "Maze" which has alternating bars of 11/8 and 13/8 - going well into Iona territory there! Dave and Troy are currently recording their parts for it, and the great Jimmy Johnson is playing bass for this which is exciting! Enjoy and there will be more music soon!
27th April 2018
Hi folks, here is a quick update on SANCTUM. Happy to say I am making good progress and some exciting things happening... Some new music at the end of this, hope you enjoy that! Love - Frank
PS For more info on SANCTUM - go here: https://igg.me/at/frankvanessen
25th April 2018
Hi Everyone,
We're gradually moving the Open Sky Records/Iona mailing list over to my Wix mailing list as BT keeps blocking our mailouts! Very frustrating. So if you'd like to stay in touch with us for gigs/news/album release updates for me / Celestial Fire / Dave & Sally / Iona (possible re-release/downloads news etc), please subscribe on my website. (If you've already subscribed on here, no need to do it again, unless you've changed email address). Thanks! We won't bombard you with emails - probably 3 or 4 a month on average. (Dave Bainbridge) http://opensky121.wix.com/davebainbridge
19th April 2018
THE MAP PROJECT GOES GLOBAL😁
Finally I’ve got through the packing and the postage of The Map Project Part 1 pre orders! Hopefully none get lost but please allow time for delivery and let me know if yours doesn’t arrive. I’ve included a few screenshots of some of the orders. Maybe you’ll spot yours. ! Official digital release will be next month. ( The second image was photographed on Tuesday at Downhill, North Coast , Ireland)
21st April 2018
Hi Everyone, Dave Bainbridge here. Here are my latest tour dates! Lots happening over the next few months with the Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear duo, Lifesigns, a solo gig, Celestial Fire in September and in the autumn, Strawbs. Hope to see you at a gig somewhere!
9th April 2018
Together with Yasunori Mitsuda( composer) and Michael McGlynn( Anuna) after the four performances of the Xenogears soundtrack. Then a quick tour of some parts of Tokyo from the crowded market streets to tranquil park...... very easy to get lost here, and so many are. Very happy to have sold nearly all the MAP Project cds I brought with me. Heading home tomorrow. Thankyou so much for all your good wishes and prayers for this trip.
26th April 2018
Cancelled flights on Wednesday and MAP cds land same day. Arrive Tokyo one day late , with cds and jet lag and go straight to rehearsal/ sound check with orchestra and band. The production also featured amazing vocal ensemble Anuna. More to follow later.......
5th April 2018
Well, the last 24hrs have been a bit of an adventure!
2nd April 2018
HORSE AND RIDER
White Horse, Another Realm, Irish Day, Beyond These Shores, Edge of the World.....
(MAP early bird pre-order, click here http://www.joannehogg.com/map/earlybird/)
A few Iona titles visually referenced in this, the only video from Uncountable Stars, and several glimpses of the The Map Project artwork.
It’s been under wraps for 18 months with nothing to link it to until now, with the imminent release of The Map Project.
Deadline for The Map Project pre ordering at discounted postage is one week away, March 24th and the bonus cd will be a limited edition run.
If you’d like to pre-order, click here http://www.joannehogg.com/map/earlybird/
Thanks and blessings
Jo
18th March 2018
Hi Everyone,
My Celestial Fire band, which of course includes Frank Van Essen of Iona, now has a Facebook page. It would be great if you could 'like' and 'follow' us. Thanks!! Dave Bainbridge
28th February 2018
Spot the connection ! ( might need to zoom in on the second image!). No sign of the “beast from the east” here today! Just a chilly breeze and visibility for miles. 😁
23rd February 2018
THE MAP PROJECT
Recording drums and bass on some new songs with Terl Bryant and Phil Barker. Also a visual preview for you of the MAP Project artwork for Part 1.
Pre ordering will be ready soon!
Always so good to work with these great friends. We’ve been reminiscing on our long history making music, Iona tours , so many memories.........
29th January 2018
MAP Project update. Also coming up in 2018....Japan!
I've been invited to Tokyo in April to perform the Xenogears soundtrack songs (recorded 20 years ago!) at 4 concerts. I've also been asked by their composer, to record some new vocal material while I'm in Tokyo.
You just never know what a year may bring !
PS - here’s a link to the song I mentioned in the video - https://www.facebook.com/joannehoggmusic/videos/1733937323338568/
2nd January 2018
The song " When Kindness Comes" was originally recorded as a demo in 2014 when I (Jo) was recording a track for Uncountable Stars - it was an unedited performance of the song, played on a concert grand piano.
At the end of 2016, while recording MAP Project songs, I decided to finish a version of the song with upright bass and flugelhorn tracked to the original demo. Here is this new recording as a soundtrack to the experiences of many of the refugees I've encountered in 2017.
At the start of the year I read the words of Isaiah 21.14-15 ...." haul water to the thirsty, greet fugitives with bread. Show hospitality to those fleeing the horrors of war in the desert."
26th December 2017
SOMETHING MORE PERSONAL....
And very impromptu.
Happy Christmas🙏
25th December 2017
CHRISTMAS EVE.....
But not the usual Christmas music. More of a CELTIC CHRISTMAS!
I thought you'd enjoy a little clip from our Christmas Eve by the fireside at home in Ireland. Our neighbours , the Mooney family played hours of traditional Irish music for us and some of our neighbours. This was one of my favourite moments and I'll share some more over the holidays.
Jo wishing you a very Happy Christmas.
21st December 2017
A SMALL CHRISTMAS GIFT... For all those who have contributed to my Indiegogo campaign or has shown an interest in my music. Be blessed & have a wonderful Christmas time! Frank https://soundcloud.com/frank-vanessen/o-come-instrumental-2112
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