Music
Press
"Demonstrating the kind of musicianship not seen very often at OOTB...an impressive performance of musicality...this was an assured performance with some professional standard song-writing on display."
- www.outofthebedroom.co.uk
"Her demo, recorded at the age of eighteen, is full of melody and optimism... Her biggest strength is her voice, which is flexible, youthful and engaging and her songwriting, with its rather alarming melodic and harmonic sophistication is perfectly tailored to her vocal talents." - www.oxfordbands.co.uk
"Bain has a real gift for melody, is an excellent pianist and her optimistic, gentle singing is uncomplicatedly loveable...Quality is maintained in the ridiculously catchy, ‘Romeo’, which adds both Shakespeare and Alfred Lord Tennyson to the literary canon namechecked on the record...I think this tune captures the essentials of Iona’s unusual charm: at their best, Bain’s songs momentarily restore our childish faith in love as being primarily about enraptured students having picnics on the Cherwell and reading Shelley to each other. Beats entire CDs about meeting chavs while collecting your giro any day." - oxfordbands.com 2008
"Her jazz tinged mellow pop...was one the student acts that gave the sunny gardens their best atmosphere". - Oxford Student 2009
Discography
Stranger in the Room (single) digital distribution in August 2009
Stranger in the Room
(EP) digital distribution in September 2009
www.myspace.com/ionabain has received over 7800 plays since inception on 1/1/07.
My track Common Sense has been featured on BBC Introducing 'Download' Show with Tim Bearder alongside major label bands such as Stornoway. My track Stranger in the Room is scheduled for airplay on Sunny Govan Radio this autumn, and is shortlisted for Clyde Radio and Leith FM.
Photos
Bio
Iona Bain is a classically trained yet pop-loving singer songwriter who grew up in Edinburgh. She began her musical life at the City of Edinburgh Music School as a classical performer, picking up regional and national accolades as a first study pianist and gaining experience as an orchestral and chamber cellist. She began composing and writing songs in her early teens, graduating from the bedroom to the gig circuit by the time she left school.
Her unique brand of soulful, intelligent jazzy pop has been attracting quiet acclaim, from Tim Bearder and the BBC "Download" programme to oxfordbands.com to Wadstock, where media coverage declared her vivacious, full band set a highlight of this year's festival, having made a successful debut there in 2008. Her two week residency with Moonbeam Events in Edinburgh is but one highlight of an extensive and evergrowing gig career, one which has included performances at Bannermans, the Kerbside Prophets series and the Fringe Festival of Spirituality. Her future projects include a partnership with the arts organisation (and all round legendary venue) the Forest Cafe, gigs at Cosmopol at Glasgow and at Henry's Cellar Bar in Edinburgh.
Iona is also one of only 5 acts to be accepted onto the Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle Project in Glasgow, an exciting project in conjunction with vibrant musical collective Music at the Brewhouse. The project will see Iona and 4 other acts collaborate with some of the most talented and experienced performance musicians in the UK, working to create new pieces that will be performed in November 25th at a showcase concert in the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow. There will be a launch event in the City Halls on Friday 28th August.
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