IONA SAY FAREWELL - FOR NOW

If you missed the recently released Iona statement on Facebook, here is an abridged version of it:

Things have been quiet on the Iona front for a while now and we are often asked when the next gigs/album will be. So we wanted to update you.
 

For some time we have been considering the future of the band, and during these discussions, it has become clear that, certainly for now, this chapter of Iona’s story, as a touring and recording band, has come to a close. Frank has decided to move on to pursue other challenges and projects. Jo, as well as having a growing need in recent years to prioritise family commitments, has also become increasingly involved in mission work with her home church and will be going on some short mission trips to refugee camps in the coming months.....
 

....We do not know what will happen in future years, whether we will get together again as Iona. The door will remain open, but for the foreseeable future, the next and exciting chapters of our journey will involve other avenues.

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Thank you for all your support and enthusiasm over the years, we so appreciate it. We have had a wonderful journey since that first gig on June 24th 1989, working with so many special people, too many to mention here. We are so grateful for all of you who have listened to our music, attended gigs, bought the cds, promoted concerts, encouraged and supported us.

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Do keep visiting the Iona page, where we will continue to post news of projects band members are working on. Dave & Debbie continue to run Open Sky Records and Iona’s cds (and other Open Sky releases) will of course remain available from the web
store (we are currently looking at options to make available the Iona albums that are unavailable at the moment).

IONA

www.iona.uk.com

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For me, as co-founder of the band along with David Fitzgerald way back in 1989, it is very sad, though not unexpected, to have to make this announcement, , but on a positive note, I intend to continue to play pieces from the very considerable body of work that we created together whenever I can, including with Frank in Celestial Fire and in the duo format with Sally Minnear. Many great Iona pieces were either never or only rarely played live and this is one thing I want to rectify, as well as to create more music that I hope will  touch and move people.

STRAWBS UK TOUR IN MARCH!

After two great gigs in December, I'm looking forward to touring again with the Strawbs in March in the UK. Sadly the planned US tour in April/May has been postponed until either later this year or early next, but there will be more UK dates in October and possibly some in Italy in the summer (tbc).  The Live in Gettysburg DVD/CD, recorded last May at RosFest and is the first Strawbs recording to feature yours truly, should be out for the March tour. The full March tour gig list is on the Gigs page. For further details check with venues and also at: www.strawbsweb.co.uk

CELESTIAL FIRE DVD UPDATE

After delays caused by work on other projects, I've now mixed the whole concert and I have to say that everyone in the band is very excited with how it's sounding. (NB See previous news for more details on the project). My good friend Frank van Essen will be mastering the music any day now and I'll be heading over to Leeds to see how our video producer Richard has got on with all the camera edits in just over a week. So we're getting very close to announcing a release date!

VINTAGE GUITARS ENDORSEE
I'm very pleased to say that I am now an official Vintage Guitars endorsee! Many of you may already know about this UK based guitar company, who's aim is to make top quality guitars at affordable prices. I have to say that having played several of their acoustic and electric guitars on trips to the Vintage HQ near Leeds, I've been incredibly impressed with both their workmanship and sound. So much so that on my last visit there I came away with two beautiful 12 string acoustic guitars, designed by master guitarist Paul Brett. These have been incredibly inspiring instruments to play and have already resulted in a load of new composition ideas. I've also used them on two recordings so far - with Lifesigns and with master songwriter Chris Eaton. Here's the link to my official page:
www.jhs.co.uk/artists/artist/david_bainbridge
 

ON KINVER EDGE
Master Songwriter Chris Eaton, who's songs have been recorded by Cliff Richard, Janet Jackson, Sheena Easton, Donna Summer, Vince Gill, Colin Blunstone and many others, was up at my Open Sky studio just over a week ago. We were working on a song he's written for the National Trust for the Midlands beauty spot Kinver Edge. I played a number of instruments on the track, including the new Vintage 12 string Paul Brett acoustic, my lovely Fylde mandolin and bouzouki, electric guitar and some keys. The haunting vocals on the song are by Chris' wife Abby, and bass by Russ Sargeant.

ALPHA & OMEGA
Post production on this 30th anniversary remake of Adrian Snell's classic album is in full swing now at Open Sky studio, as I aim to transform the raw live recordings into what I hope will be an epic and dynamic new interpretation of the work. My great friend David Fitzgerald will be up at the studio next week adding some extra woodwind and sax parts.