Year: 2002

Band History

June '02 / Back to Gigs After a break of a whole year from playing live concerts due to Jo's pregnancy and subequent giving birth, IONA are overjoyed to be back on stage! After a few days rehearsals, the band are back with a very well received run of concerts, starting at the Orange Wow (Fish Quay) Festival in North Shields and then on the Germany for two appearances.

August '02 / 'The River Flows' Box Set Released

Release of the bands first recording on own label 'Open Sky Records'. 'The River Flows' boxset is attracting very positive feedback from fans.

IONA have been back on the road with a number of dates in Europe and the UK.

September '02 / Expo 2002 The band perform in the open air at Expo 2002 in Switzerland. Over dinner, Jo announces the miraculous news that she is pregnant again.

October '02 / Dave starts Son-Rise Dave & Debbie begin their exciting home-based Son-Rise programme with their autistic son Luca. This cuts down the time Dave is able to spend on IONA matters.

November '02 / Last Concerts At the end of the month, the band perform their last concerts (in Germany and at the Winter Wonder Rock Festival in Holland), before Joanne's maternity leave. IONA plans are put on hold.

December '02 / Dave starts 'Veil of Gossamer'

Dave starts work on 'Veil of Gossamer', his first solo album.

Frank Van Essen and wife Marlou release a Dutch language Christmas album of traditional Dutch Christmas folk songs, titled 'Immanuel'. The recording, which mixes classical and folk influences, features Troy and Dave on a number of tracks and is proving to be very popular in Frank's native Holland.