Album:
Band History
October '98
UK tour including last UK gig (Solihull) until 1999. A fault with the microphone on Troy's pipes prompts spur of the moment performance of the 'Free' song 'All Right Now'.
December '98 / German Tour
German tour - last dates until 1999. Joanne voted 'Best Female Vocalist' in the Classic Rock Society's annual awards.
August '99 - September '99 / Switzerland & Holland Festivals
A few festival appearances in Europe (Switzerland and Holland). The Switzerland festival is memorable for the band playing during a thunder storm, complete with torrential rain and towels on the equipment in a vain attempt to keep it dry!
July '00 / More UK Dates
Further UK dates, including at a Millennium celebration in the spectacular surroundings of Stourhead Gardens in Wiltshire.
November '00 / First Switzerland Tour
The band's first actual tour in Switzerland is very well attended and well received. Jean-Daniel Lerber, the tour's promoter becomes the band's tour agent for the whole of mainland Europe.
December '00 / Holland Dates
Concerts in Holland. Nick Beggs fills in for Phil, who is unable to get out of a prior commitment.
February '01 / First Concerts in Japan
Iona's first ever concert dates in Japan organised by The Music Plant. The band are overwhelmed by the audience response each night, and the fact that many people are already familiar with the band's music. An acoustic 'welcome' evening in a small club sees the whole audience coming to chat to the band and have their cds signed afterwards! Over a traditional Japanese meal, Joanne announces the joyous news that she is pregnant - and suffering very bad morning sickness.
March '01 - June '01 / US Dates Canceled
Due to complications with the pregnancy, Jo's doctor advises her not to do anymore long haul flights until after the baby is born. The band manages one Festival appearance in the USA in Memphis, but unfortunately has to cancel other US dates and the planned appearance at the Baja Prog Festival in Mexico.
July '01 / Band Dropped by Forefront
The band is dropped by US label Forefront after management changes at the company and a change of emphasis to favour signing more younger chart oriented artists.
August '01 / 'Open Sky Records' Launched
After discussions with Alliance Media, Iona's UK label, it is agreed that the band can be freed from their current contract in order to set up their own label 'Open Sky'. IONA immediately begin to look into the possibility of releasing a 4cd box set as their own label's first release. Greenbelt Festival decide that it is too risky to have the band on the bill due to Jo's baby's imminent birth (although Jo is feeling fine by now), so they cancel our appearance.
