Album:
Band History
September '03 / Iona Featured on 'Celtic Circle 2'
The reworked version of the track 'Iona' from the band's first album appears on a compilation album released by the mainstream giants BMG Records titled 'Celtic Circle 2'. The 2 cd, 40 track album also features tracks by a whole host of well known artists, including Clannad, Jeff Beck, The Corrs, Mike Oldfield, Sinead O'Connor, Van Morrison, Loreena McKinnett, The Chieftans, Davy Spillane etc, etc. Two IONA tracks - 'Treasure' and 'The Island' (reworked version) are also featured on another compilation album released by The World Wide Music Group, entitled 'The Celtic Worship Collection'. Other artists also featured on this album include Eden's Bridge, Jeff Johnson and Robin Mark. Troy's latest solo album 'In Pursuit of Illusion' enters the 'Out of this World' top 10 for 'progressive and symphonic rock' albums on the Dutch web site www.progwereld.org
October '03
Troy and Dave play their first ever gigs and a duo at venues in the UK. The set includes solo album material, traditional folk tunes and IONA tracks and the concerts are very well received. Included in the set are tracks like 'Conscious', the opening track from Troy's 'Illusion' - quite a challenge for the boys to play it live as the album version features a whole cast of musicians including the York Cantores Choir!
November '03 / 'In Pursuit of Illusion' Reviews
Troy's latest solo album 'In Pursuit of Illusion' has been getting some good reviews and is now available in many mainstream music shops thanks to a distribution deal with the Discovery record label. Meanwhile Troy and Dave play a few more UK dates, one of which (at The Studio, Hartlepool) is recorded in their purpose build recording facility. Iona's first 3 albums are re-released on 'Open Sky' - in conjunction with Voiceprint. The albums feature great new artwork, courtesy of Chris Sands, some of which is derived from the IONA box set artwork.
Also during the year Kingsway release their 'New Irish Hymns 2' on which Joanne is one of the featured vocalists, along with Margaret Becker and Kirsty Getty.
Also during the year Kingsway release their 'New Irish Hymns 2' on which Joanne is one of the featured vocalists, along with Margaret Becker and Kirsty Getty.
January '04 / Other News
Midway through the year, the band manage to secure the rights back to their four most recent albums ('Journey Into The Morn', 'Heaven's Bright Sun', 'Woven Cord' and 'Open Sky'). These are to be relaunched in 2005 on the bands 'Open Sky' label and will include brand new artwork for 'Journey Into The Morn'. Meanwhile a distribution deal is secured with ICC records for distribution into Christian retail outlets.
Another in Kingsway's 'New Irish Hymns' series of albums is released. 'New Irish Hymns - Christmas' again has Joanne as one of the featured singers.
Jo sings several songs on the 'Songs of Praise' programme on BBC TV.
A very busy year for Troy includes production work and co-writing on Barbara Dixon's excellent new album 'Full Circle', concerts with Barbara and opera diva Lesley Garrett and songwriting with Midge Ure. As if that's not enough, Troy also finds time to write the music for several BBC TV programmes, including Timewatch, and play on a number of other albums, artists include Moya Brennan and US folk artist Jennifer Cutting.
BOSE, the well respected Hi-Fi company use a track from Troy's first album, 'The Unseen Stream', as part of their new advertising campaign. The piece, 'Sights' has been re-mixed in 5.1 Surround and is heard as part of the BOSE multi-media show in their plush 'in-store' theatres.
Former IONA members Nick Beggs, David Fitzgerald and Terl Bryant are all busy releasing excellent solo projects. Bass player and Chapman Stick virtuoso Nick has an album of solo Stick recitals out, titled 'The Mavrick Helmsman'.
IONA co-founder Dave Fitzgerald latest solo release is titled 'God is Love' and former IONA drummer Terl Bryant releases his first 'Psalm Drummers' cd/dvd and also a collaboration with his wife Jules.
'Over the Waters' from Dave's solo album also features on another compilation, titled 'Got Prog? The Music Street Journal Sampler CD Number 1'. Also featuring tracks by Echolyn, Erik Norlander, Lana Lane, Orphan Project and many others, this is available from www.musicstreetjournal.com or www.cafepress.com/msjmerch
Leeds based Pointed Arrow Theatre Company use the band's music in their first project Pilgrimage in which they travel along the Great North Road performing a play about the stories connected with the road, and explore British national identity as they go. A 45 min documentary film about the journey is available on DVD. See www.pointedarrow.co.uk for further details.
Another in Kingsway's 'New Irish Hymns' series of albums is released. 'New Irish Hymns - Christmas' again has Joanne as one of the featured singers.
Jo sings several songs on the 'Songs of Praise' programme on BBC TV.
A very busy year for Troy includes production work and co-writing on Barbara Dixon's excellent new album 'Full Circle', concerts with Barbara and opera diva Lesley Garrett and songwriting with Midge Ure. As if that's not enough, Troy also finds time to write the music for several BBC TV programmes, including Timewatch, and play on a number of other albums, artists include Moya Brennan and US folk artist Jennifer Cutting.
BOSE, the well respected Hi-Fi company use a track from Troy's first album, 'The Unseen Stream', as part of their new advertising campaign. The piece, 'Sights' has been re-mixed in 5.1 Surround and is heard as part of the BOSE multi-media show in their plush 'in-store' theatres.
Former IONA members Nick Beggs, David Fitzgerald and Terl Bryant are all busy releasing excellent solo projects. Bass player and Chapman Stick virtuoso Nick has an album of solo Stick recitals out, titled 'The Mavrick Helmsman'.
IONA co-founder Dave Fitzgerald latest solo release is titled 'God is Love' and former IONA drummer Terl Bryant releases his first 'Psalm Drummers' cd/dvd and also a collaboration with his wife Jules.
'Over the Waters' from Dave's solo album also features on another compilation, titled 'Got Prog? The Music Street Journal Sampler CD Number 1'. Also featuring tracks by Echolyn, Erik Norlander, Lana Lane, Orphan Project and many others, this is available from www.musicstreetjournal.com or www.cafepress.com/msjmerch
Leeds based Pointed Arrow Theatre Company use the band's music in their first project Pilgrimage in which they travel along the Great North Road performing a play about the stories connected with the road, and explore British national identity as they go. A 45 min documentary film about the journey is available on DVD. See www.pointedarrow.co.uk for further details.
January '04 / Interviews
Although it is a quiet year as far as the band are concerned, due to Joanne's maternity leave, behind the scenes requests for interviews continue to come in from various sources - mainly music web sites that are often only just discovering Iona's music and want to know more. Promotional cds are frequently sent out to radio shows across the world from the IONA office - an increasing number of these shows being streamed on the web.
February '04 / Troy & Dave Performance
Troy and Dave play a duo gig in front on an enthusiastic 'home crowd' at Fibbers in York.
Released this month on the 'Sanctuary' Label, is a compilation CD of British Composers with a Celtic feel. Called 'Celtic Classics', the album includes 'Overture: Journey North'. This orchestral piece, written by Troy, opened the IONA concert at the Royal Festival Hall in May 1999 and has since been performed twice at Moya Brennan concerts. The piece is part of Troy's as yet unfinished 'Rheged Symphony'. The album is to have a major TV campaign (featuring the music!) and is very novel in that Troy and Sir Paul McCartney are the only living composers featured!
Released this month on the 'Sanctuary' Label, is a compilation CD of British Composers with a Celtic feel. Called 'Celtic Classics', the album includes 'Overture: Journey North'. This orchestral piece, written by Troy, opened the IONA concert at the Royal Festival Hall in May 1999 and has since been performed twice at Moya Brennan concerts. The piece is part of Troy's as yet unfinished 'Rheged Symphony'. The album is to have a major TV campaign (featuring the music!) and is very novel in that Troy and Sir Paul McCartney are the only living composers featured!
July '04 / New Songs
Dave, Frank and Jo get together in Ireland early in July to work on new IONA song ideas, the result is four new songs, including two ('Strength' and 'Factory of Magnificent Souls') that will be featured on the forthcoming concerts.
September '04 / Live Shows Resume
After almost a two year break, IONA are performing live again! After rehearsals in a secluded rural location in Yorkshire in the north of England, September sees the band's first ever gig in Belgium (at the Spirit of '66 club), along with a welcome return to Holland for two concerts. Three new tracks are featured in the set and are well received. The band open up the concerts with an acoustic set, before coming back with the full monty.
'Celtic Circle 3' released by BMG features 'Until the Tide Turns' from Dave's solo album and the IONA track 'Divine Presence'. Other artists included in this impressive 2 cd release include; Sarah McLachlan, Clannad, Rory Gallagher, Maire Brennan, Christy Moore, The Corrs, Annie Lennox, Van Morrison & The Cheiftains, Paul Brady, Runrig, Altan, Sharon Shannon & Steve Earle, Sinead O'Connor, Altan, Waterson: Carthy, Capercaillie , Eva Cassidy, Davy Spillane, Lorenna McKennitt and Kate Rusby.
Meanwhile in the Netherlands, BMG release a compilation called 'Keltische Muziek' as part of their 'Sfeer & Romantiek' series. Dave's 'Until the Tide Turns' is also on this album which also includes tracks by Capercaillie, Chieftains & Sinead O'Conno, Clannad, Eddi Reader, Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning, Loreena McKennitt, Maire Brennan, Sarah McLachlan, Adiemus, Kate Bush, Eleanor McEvoy & Mary Black, Celtus, Dan Ar Braz et L'Heritage des Celtes, David Spillane, Eleanor McEvoy, All About Eve, Michael Flatly, Enya, The Corrs and others.
Dave and Debbie report that so far over £9,000 has been raised from sales of the 'Songs for Luca' album. This enables them to put down a deposite on the week long Son-Rise Intensive course (as featured on a BBC1 QED programme a few years ago) at the Autism Treatment Centre USA for February 2005, which they are really excited about.
'Celtic Circle 3' released by BMG features 'Until the Tide Turns' from Dave's solo album and the IONA track 'Divine Presence'. Other artists included in this impressive 2 cd release include; Sarah McLachlan, Clannad, Rory Gallagher, Maire Brennan, Christy Moore, The Corrs, Annie Lennox, Van Morrison & The Cheiftains, Paul Brady, Runrig, Altan, Sharon Shannon & Steve Earle, Sinead O'Connor, Altan, Waterson: Carthy, Capercaillie , Eva Cassidy, Davy Spillane, Lorenna McKennitt and Kate Rusby.
Meanwhile in the Netherlands, BMG release a compilation called 'Keltische Muziek' as part of their 'Sfeer & Romantiek' series. Dave's 'Until the Tide Turns' is also on this album which also includes tracks by Capercaillie, Chieftains & Sinead O'Conno, Clannad, Eddi Reader, Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning, Loreena McKennitt, Maire Brennan, Sarah McLachlan, Adiemus, Kate Bush, Eleanor McEvoy & Mary Black, Celtus, Dan Ar Braz et L'Heritage des Celtes, David Spillane, Eleanor McEvoy, All About Eve, Michael Flatly, Enya, The Corrs and others.
Dave and Debbie report that so far over £9,000 has been raised from sales of the 'Songs for Luca' album. This enables them to put down a deposite on the week long Son-Rise Intensive course (as featured on a BBC1 QED programme a few years ago) at the Autism Treatment Centre USA for February 2005, which they are really excited about.
October '04 / 'From Silence' Recorded
On the evening of 27th October Troy and Dave set up their gear in the cavernous surroundings of Lincoln Cathedral and improvised together for over an hour, taking their inspiration from their surroundings and the wonderful acoustic properties of the building. The session is recorded and filmed and will later become their first duo release 'From Silence'.
November '04 / Return to Germany
A welcome return for the band to Germany sees them perform three gigs, then returning to the UK a few days later (along with nasty flu type infections for Troy and Dave) for a very special concert at ULU (University of London Union) on the 18th, which will be filmed for the band's first full length concert DVD. The London DVD concert is the band's first UK date in almost 2 years. The opportunity comes up at very short notice, but despite less than 2 months to publicise the event the band are very please to see 350 or so very enthusiastic IONA diehards turn out on a very wet and miserable evening. The concert, arranged by Voiceprint, turns out to be a truly great event and, despite the illnesses contracted the week before in Germany by Troy and Dave, the band play a storming set. With superb lighting from Paul Kell, a full 5 camera film crew and multi track recording set up backstage, the band feel that this will really be a fantastic document of Iona's powerful live performances. The DVD will also be the bandıs first 5.1 surround sound mix, which will be done by 5.1 expert John Kellogg in Los Angeles.
