Iona – Live In London
Dave Bainbridge, Featured Title, Frank Van Essen, Joanne Hogg, Phil Barker, Troy Donockley
September 1, 2022
'Live In London' captures the band on a rainy November night in 2004, playing to a packed and enthusiastic audience at the University of London, not long before the recording of their 6th studio album ‘The Circling Hour’. The set includes three early versions of songs that would be included on that album, as well as tracks from all of their previous albums. With superb lighting from Paul Kell (Pink Floyd/Nick Mason), a full 5 camera film crew and multi track recording set up backstage, 'Live In London' is a fantastic document of the band's powerful live performances. Surround sound expert John Kellogg mixed the album in Los Angeles. The film showcases the band in both an acoustic and a full plugged setting and the results are spell bounding. The Main Programme is largely high energy set full of outrageous guitar solos, crystal clean vocals and the wondrous melodies that permeate Iona’s music. Also included is the band’s opening half hour set of acoustic renditions of songs such as ‘Chi-Rho’ and ‘Edge of the World’ plus extensive interviews with all the band. Iona aren’t so much about their hits but more about a wave of feeling and this is brought out in the concert because the listener can’t help but feel so positive and full of heart and enthusiasm. This is a fantastic concert experience showcasing some absolutely amazing talent.
PERSONNEL:
Dave Bainbridge - Keyboards, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Bouzouki
Joanne Hogg - Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Acoustic Guitar
Phil Barker - Basses
Troy Donockley - Uilleann pipes, Low and Tin Whistles, Bouzouki, Acoustic Guitar, Vocal
Frank Van Essen - Drums, Percussion, Violin
DAVE BAINBRIDGE & DAVID FITZGERALD WITH DAVID ADAM: THE EYE OF THE EAGLE
Beautifully filmed by Anglia TV in 1999, this film documents the sold out premier performance in Norwich Cathedral of this significant work by Iona co-founders David Fitzgerald and Dave Bainbridge. Based on the book of the same name by popular Celtic writer / poet David Adam, the film includes insightful interviews with Fitzgerald, Bainbridge and Adam.
Featuring much footage not included on the original 1999 video release, including the moving encore 'Open My Eyes', David and Dave are joined by narrator Canon Martin Shaw and a cast of superb guest musicians and singers, including the St Edmundsbury Cathedral choir and organist.
Tracks: Open My Eyes Though The Dawn Breaks Hymn of the Universe Fire and Water, Caim I Arise Today, God Our Pilgrimage The Lightener of the Stars Upon A Path of Light A World With A World.
Iona was formed in 1989 and released their self-titled debut album in 1990. The band's unique sound, a blend of Celtic, progressive rock, pop, folk and ambient elements paved the way for a number of other female led band's in the genre.
Inspiration is often an elusive quality that, once it ignites the imagination, can bring forth music and words that can deeply touch the soul. Journey with the original members of the band Iona (David Fitzgerald, Dave Bainbridge, Joanne Hogg), plus guests Nick Beggs and Frank van Essen, as they visit the place that so inspired their formation - the Scottish Isle of Iona. Filmed in 1990 for a Dutch TV documentary on the band, this unique documentary shows Iona in their very earliest days, soon after the release of their first self-titled album, in conversation and rehearsing ideas for their follow up album, which would become ‘The Book of Kells’. Combining atmospheric landscape footage from the islands of Mull and Iona, and rare concert footage of one of the band's first ever concerts, this is a unique visual document for all those whose lives have been or have yet to be touched by the music of Iona.
Music on this film is taken from Iona's debut album Iona, released in 1990.
"With no music prepared, just an idea of which instruments we might play, we decided from the outset to seek our inspiration from our surroundings and the cathedral's acoustics, so that the music would, in some way become part of the building, and aspire, for the 70 minutes or so that we played without a break, to something beyond ourselves”.
So said Dave Bainbridge, describing the process and approach used by him and Troy Donockley to create the music you can hear on this atmospheric film of the duo's completely improvised performance, in the otherwise vast, deserted space of Lincoln Cathedral, late on a dark evening in October 2004.
What transpired were six improvisations, which the duo aptly titled ‘From Silence’ (parts 1 to 6), referring to the inspiration of the otherwise silent, huge space, once the tallest building in Europe. The film, which captured the complete performance exactly as it happened, also includes insightful interviews with Troy and Dave and also an interview about the binaural recording process used to capture this unique performance by sound sculptor Dallas Simpson. Listen on headphones if you can!
Recorded on their first concert tour in 2015, this was the first release by Dave Bainbridge's new band Celestial Fire. Featuring a mix of IONA music (some rarely played live, such as 'Brendan's Voyage & Brendan’s Return’), music from Dave's solo albums and even a Yes cover or two, this recording shows the astonishing breadth of talent and stunning musical sensitivity in this line up. The entire concert performance, filmed with multiple cameras by INNSIGHT TV, with the audio mixed by Dave Bainbridge is supplemented with additional rehearsal footage.
Line up:
Sally Minnear (Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, tenor recorder)
Dave Bainbridge (Guitars, keyboards, bouzouki)
Dave Brons (Guitars, mandolin, vocals)
Simon Fitzpatrick (Bass, Chapman stick, keyboard)
Frank van Essen (Drums, violin, percussion, vocals)
Tracklist:
1 Celestial Fire
2 Today
3 Kells Opening Theme
4 Revelation
5 The Storm
6 Until The Tide Turns
7 Love Remains
8 Over The Waters
9 Chi-Rho
10 Roundabout
11 Songs Of Ascent - Part 2
12 Beyond These Shores
13 Brendan's Voyage
14 Brendan's Return
15 In The Moment
16 Soon
This film demonstrates the range and diversity of music that Dave & Sally perform at their always well received concerts. Featuring the duo's arrangements of music from Dave's previous band Iona, his solo albums and several traditional Irish folk pieces, filmed, recorded and mixed at Dave's Open Sky Studio. Extras include Dave & Sally 'In Conversation', plus some live footage from their concert at The Lantern Theatre, Sheffield in March 2018.
'Wonderful'
Tom Newman (producer Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells etc)
"Dave Bainbridge, Thank YOU! ..it was a stupendous evening. Absolutely brilliant and beautiful performance. Sally's singing is incredible, we loved every minute! Everybody go and see this duo, they are something very special indeed, we can't wait to have them back.”
Debs Earl (promoter - folkinthebarn.co.uk )
"Great show last night with Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear."
Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention)
"I'm not sure I have the words to say how much I enjoyed every moment from 3pm to pack down - Sally (what a voice!) and Dave were a joy to work with and absolutely fantastic throughout. As for the gig one word - Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!"
Steve (promoter)
"Great Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear gig last night in Farncombe performing a mix of Iona, Dave solo and some traditional arrangements. Two amazingly talented musicians! I can't think of too many musicians who are both virtuoso guitarists and pianists but Dave excels on each and not forgetting his pretty mean bouzouki playing! I'm sure Dave could turn his hand to stand up comedy too - some very funny introductions last night! Beautiful vocals too from Sally. If you get the chance to catch them live then grab it"
Ian Jones (Karnataka)
TRACK LISTING:
Kells Theme | Treasure | After the Battle | My Lagan Love | The Wild Sea/Machrie Moor | The Humours of Ballyloughlan | Today | Songs of Ascent (Part 2) | The Storm | Shuil A Ruin | Innocence Found | Revelation | Heaven’s Bright Sun | Beyond These Shores | Caoineadh Cu Chulainn
Extras -
Live at the Lantern Theatre, Sheffield: Chi-Rho- | Veil of Gossamer | Irish Day | Luke – The Calf | In Conversation with Dave and Sally.