Iona was formed during the late eighties and released their self-titled debut album in 1990. The band covers a number of styles including Celtic, progressive rock, and even jazz and Christian elements. All the band's albums have received critical acclaim, as have the band's live performances over the years.
The mainstays of the band are Dave Bainbridge, Joanne Hogg and David Fitzgerald, and former Kajagoogoo bassist Nick Beggs was a one-time member. There have also been some high profile guests perform with the band on their albums over the years including King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp. The band are these days also joined by respected multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley.
More recently the band have been enjoying a break from touring and performing duties necessitated by vocalist Joanne Hogg taking time out to have a family. During this time, however, the band have embarked on a number of solo activities, which has seen the release of a number of albums from Troy Donockley and Dave Bainbridge, and occasional live concerts from the pair. Iona re-grouped for a series of concerts and recording sessions towards the end of 2004.
Open Sky was Iona's seventh studio album and the band's first album of the new millennium, being released in 2001.
The album contains a good mix of the progressive and ambient music that Iona has become well known for. It was also the last studio album to come from the band before they took time out to devote to family commitments and solo activities. As with the other Iona recordings in the recent series of re-issues, Open Sky has been re-mastered for this release.
