DAVE BAINBRIDGE: guitars, keyboards, bouzouki, programming.


Born in Darlington in the north east of England, and from a musical family, Dave began piano lessons at the age of 8 and guitar lessons from his dad at 13. He joined his first band 'Exodus' at the age of 14 - "We all liked Genesis at the time, hence the name - it seemed like the next best thing!"

Dave subsequently 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, particularly through work with college bands 'The Leeds Synthonia' and the 'Hyperspace Rock Orchestra' (the members of which, under the guidance of a rather eccentric college teacher, used to perform concerts dressed in Roman style togas!).

Since then his musical career has involved composition, recording, performing, producing, arranging and teaching. Dave has arranged the 'World in Action' theme (with Norman Beaker) for Granada TV, written for numerous commercial video films, written for BBC2's 'Natural World' series, played on TV themes and made numerous TV appearances with various artists.

In the mid 1980's to early 1990's, due to his association with the 'Norman Beaker' band, Dave was very active on the UK Blues scene. With the Norman Beaker band, Dave backed many visiting UK, US and European blues artists, both 'live' and on recordings for the 'Paul Jones Blues Show' on BBC Radio 2, including; Jack Bruce, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Paul Jones, Pete Brown, Phil Guy, Lowell Fulson, Lurrie Bell, Cary Bell, Rockin' Sidney, Guitar Shorty (Jimi Hendrix brother-in-law!), Louisiana Red, Colin Hodgkinson, Tony McPhee, Chris Farlowe, Herbie Goins, Fenton Robinson, Johnny Mars, Mick Abrahams, Ted Hawkins, Helen Watson, Angela Brown ...

Dave has also performed with Buddie Guy and in 1990 was one of the nominees in the category of 'Instrumentalist of the Year' in the British Blues Connections awards.

Whilst still at college in Leeds Dave, through a mutual friend, met up with singer/songwriter Adrian Snell, whom he had long admired. The result was a working partnership that spanned the next 8 years and through which he would first meet Joanne Hogg and David Fitzgerald.

Dave co-founded Iona with the band's former woodwind player, David Fitzgerald, in the summer of 1989. He, Joanne and Troy form the band's main writing partnership and he has produced all eight of the albums so far. Dave's first solo album 'Veil of Gossamer' was released in June 2004. Other collaboration projects include 'The Eye of the Eagle' with David Fitzgerald (1998), 'From Silence' with Troy Donockley (2004) and 'When World's Collide' also with Troy Donockley (to be released late spring 2005)

He has worked with many other artists including; 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.

He has produced numerous albums including all of Iona's releases and Joanne Hogg's solo album 'Looking into Light'. Dave first solo album 'Veil of Gossamer' was released in June 2004 and has received some amazing reviews...

'To my ears this is the most successful album of this type since Mike Oldfield¹s masterpiece Ommadawn. Stunning.' www.progressiveears.com - Sept 2004

'...a sonic masterpiece...Bainbridge has given us what is in my humble opinion one of the best albums ever to be recorded.....some of the best music that he has ever written Chris MacIntosh aka Grandfather Rock www.tollbooth.org August 2004.'

'Bainbridge's guitar playing is superb; his electric solos conjure Eric Johnson and Alan Holdsworth, while his acoustic technique dazzles, thanks to a remarkable dexterity and the use of unusual tunings.... ....Looking deeper, the music is genuinely touching, possessing a spiritual quality that speaks to the soul and inspires various states of positivity, from peaceful tranquility to breathless exhilaration. Layers of wordless vocals - courtesy of Joanne Hogg (Iona), Rachel Jones (Karnataka), and Mae McKenna - and McKenna's heartfelt renderings of Gaelic hymns (in the original language) lend an ethereal, otherworldly quality to much of Veil Of Gossamer.....Best of 2004, hands down.' www.progressiveworld.net August 2004

'Albums of this quality are a rare thing and make life and music absolutely worthwhile. Besides the outstanding compositions and musicians, the production is flawless and the artwork fits the theme of the music as if the artist knew the story (which wasn't the case!). So, an absolutely amazing album, filled with nothing but beauty, beauty we all need in our lives, whether we admit it or not.' www.progpower.de August 2004

'I fear that my words might not do justice to the haunting and beautiful guitar that opens The Everlasting Hills (part 1); or misses the beauty of the vocals accompanied by Troy Donockley's Uilleann Pipes in (part 2)......Veil Of Gossamer is a truly wonderful album combining the best of Iona's Celtic atmospheres along with some splendid guitar work from Dave Bainbridge, and great performances from the assembled cast.' www.dprp.net. Holland Sept 2004

Sitting here stunned after my first full listen to Veil Of Gossamer, I've not the command of words to convey the true gratitude to Dave Bainbridge for what has instantly become one of my favorite recordings of all time. Kenneth L. Solomon - Progressive Soundscapes Radio August 2004.

Dave also runs Iona's own Open Sky Records label along with his wife Debbie, and his own Open Sky recording studio.

Selected Discography

The Virgin - Adrian Snell, 1981

Friday Night Again - Gary Boyle, 1984

Music for Mime - Geoffrey Stevenson, 1984

On the Run '84 - Snake Davis and the Suspicions, 1984

The Trumpet Call - Dave Markee Band, 1984

I Once was a Gambler - Phil Guy, 1986

Daniel - Riding Lights Theatre Company, 1986

Alpha and Omega - Adrian Snell, 1986

Modern Days Lonely Nights - Norman Beaker Band, 1988

To the Chief Musician - Dave Markee, 1988

Song of an Exile - Adrian Snel,l 1988

The Paul Jones Rhythm & Blues Show - The American Guests (Volumes 1,2 and 3)

Phil Guy/Rockin' Sidney/Norman Beaker Band/Fenton Robinson/Lurrie Bell/Louisiana Red, 1988/1989

The 1st Burnley National Blues Festival - Norman Beaker Band/Fenton Robinson, 1989

Live in the UK - Don Francisco, 1989

The 2nd Burnley National Blues Festival - Buddy Guy, 1990

Kiss the Tears - Adrian Snell, 1992

When My Heart Breaks (single) - Vim Jaap/Chris Eaton, 1992

The Day the North Left Town (single) - Woodthieves/Grimethorpe Colliery Band, 1992

Apres Demain - R.S.V.P. 1993

Live - Bryn Haworth, 1993

ShÕma Yisrael - Barry & Batya Segal, 1995

Psalm - Terl Bryant, 1995

Beauty - Terl Bryant, 1997

1998 Eye of the Eagle - Dave Bainbridge (with David Fitzgerald and David Adam)

Songs and Hymns - Bryn Haworth 1999

1999 Looking into Light - Joanne Hogg

2000 Yellow Moon - Emiko Shiratori

2001 Stick Insect - Nick Beggs

2002 Immanuel - Marlou and Frank van Essen

2003 Veil of Gossamer - Dave Bainbridge (to be released end of 2004)

2004 'From Silence' Troy Donockley & Dave Bainbridge