Album: Songs for Luca 2

Band History

December '05   /  Songs for Luca 2 Work continues on the new album recording at Dave's, Frank's and Troy's respective home studios.

Dave and Debbie Bainbridge report that they're getting a fantastic response from artists wanting to be involved in the new 'Songs for Luca 2' album to help raise more funds to finance their homebased Son-Rise program for their autistic son Luca. Artists on board to date include: Moya Brennan (Clannad vocalist) who's sent a beautiful exclusive track from a radio recording, Dave Beegle (davebeegle.com) - a superb US guitarist, whether playing flamenco or blistering rock! Joanne Hogg (our very own!) - with a new version of 'Journey Into The Morn', featuring (we hope) some very special guests... Nick Fletcher - brilliant classical guitarist who's coming over to Open Sky Studio to record one of his own compositions exclusively for the album, Mssrs Donockley and Bainbridge (probably an exclusive live track) and Debbie Bainbridge - (haunting piano piece).

Other artists whom we hope will be included: Oliver Wakeman (son of Rick), Chasing the Monsoon - (splinter group from Karnataka) Heather Findlay - (lovely singer from Mostly Autumn), Kenso - fantastic Japanese progressive band, Keith Baker - (US dulcimer player), Jason Williams - (US guitarist, keyboardist) on a collaboration with Frank and Dave, Richard John Thompson - (singer songwriter), and Roine Stolte - (wonderful Flower Kings guitarist)
December - Jo and Dave spend a long day with the Live In London DVD editor Tom Grimshaw in Manchester overseeing the final video edits.


Other 2005 highlights:

LATEST COMPILATION ALBUM RELEASE
'CPR volume 2' (short for Christian Progressive Rock!) includes 'Over the Waters' from Dave's solo album as well as contributions from Neal Morse and others. (For further details see )

Troy contributes, uilleann pipes, low whistle, tin whistle and E-Bow guitar to a superb new album from US folk artist Jennifer Cutting.

A nice history of the band (in German) appears at ww.radio-euro.de

2005 is the year that many people start hearing Iona's music being played in various retail chains throughout the UK - Kwik Save, Wilkinsons, Carphone Warehouse, B & Q, IKea, Mcdonald's etc etc! The track being heard is Matthew - The Man which has somehow made its way onto a compilation tape assembled specifically as background music for these stores!! Luke-the Calf is also heard as telephone hold music for Carphone Warehouse!

After publishing a printed newsletter for the last 15 years for subscribers to 'Friends of Iona', the band finally take the decision to send only email newsletters from now on due to rising print costs and speed of communication.

November '07   /  Songs for Luca 2 Released Songs for Luca 2 double album is released on Open Sky / Voiceprint. At c2hrs 20mins long and containing 25 exclusive tracks (out of 30 in total) the album is tremendous value for money. Contributors include: Moya Brennan, Joanne Hogg, IONA, Phil Keaggy, Troy Donockley, Mostly Autumn, Martyn Joseph and many many more, along with some intriguing collaborations. Where else will you hear Heather Findlay from Mostly Autumn, Roine Stolt from the Flower Kings and Nick Beggs from Kajagoogoo all guesting on a newly recorded version of Iona's song 'Journey Into The Morn', or Dave Bainbridge and Phil Keaggy playing together?

All proceeds go towards helping Dave & Debbie's autistic son, Luca continue on his Son-Rise Programme (Autism Center of America). Luca has been doing his Son-Rise programme at home for 5 years now and has made amazing progress; the proceeds of the album enable Dave & Debbie to continue working with Luca in this way and pay for the essential support services that Son-Rise offer.

The band say a fond farewell to Angela Wright who has been handling all the merchandise orders and newsletter postings for a long long time now. She is moving onto pastures new, training to be a music teacher. In her place we welcome Heather who deals with all the cd / dvd orders for the next 2 years.

'The Lost Princess', a short silent (apart from the music!) film that Dave wrote and recorded the score for is premiered at the National Media Museum in Bradford. This film, plus another short film Dave wrote the score for called 'Wilfred' are now both available to view at films.com.

History by Album:
Iona  ('90)
The Book Of Kells  ('92)
Beyond These Shores  ('93)
Journey Into The Morn  ('96)
Heaven's Bright Sun  ('97)
Woven Cord  ('99)
Open Sky  ('00)
The River Flows: Anthology Vol. 1  ('02)
Songs for Luca  ('03)
Veil of Gossamer  ('04)
Iona  ('04)
The Circling Hour  ('06)
Live In London  ('06)
Songs for Luca 2  ('07)
Live In London  ('08)
Life Journey  ('09)
Raphael's Journey  ('10)
Another Realm  ('11)