Guitarist and composer Dave Bainbridge was born in 1959 in Darlington in the northeast of England. He started taking piano lessons at the age of 8 and guitar lessons from his dad at 13.
Bainbridge joined his first band, ‘Exodus’ at fourteen. He went to Leeds College of Music, gaining the “BBC Radio 2 Best Jazz Soloist Award” while there.
At Leeds College of Music, Dave met vocalist and songwriter Adrian Snell. The result was a musical partnership spanning eight years. At that time, Dave met vocalist Joanne Hogg and multi-instrumentalist David Fitzgerald. This gathering of musicians led to the creation of the group Iona, a popular progressive Celtic rock band with a Christian edge. Dave toured worldwide with Iona between 1989 and 2015, releasing 13 critically acclaimed albums.
Dave’s multifaceted career as a solo artist, skilled instrumentalist (keyboards, guitars, bouzouki), composer, improviser, producer, arranger, teacher and sound mixer led him to perform diverse musical genres. He has worked with numerous artists, including Strawbs (current keyboardist), Jack Bruce, Buddy Guy, Troy Donockley (Nightwish), Nick Beggs, Gloria Gaynor, Moya Brennan, Robert Fripp, Mae McKenna, Phil Keaggy, Paul Jones, Damian Wilson, Nick Fletcher, ‘Snake’ Davis, Adrian Snell, PP Arnold, Mollie Marriott, Lifesigns (with John Young), Norman Beaker, Fred T Baker, Dave Brons, Paul Bielatowicz and many others.
Dave Bainbridge’s music is deeply rooted in Celtic music, progressive rock, and classical influences.
In 2020, Dave Bainbridge produced the epic 17 CD “Book of Iona” boxed set, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Iona.
Dave also contributed in various degrees to new albums by Kimmo Porsti, Cronofonia, Downes Braide Association, Lifesigns, Nick Fletcher, Glass Hammer, Celtish and Strawbs. However, in between all this activity Dave put together the concept and music for his 4th solo album, “To The Far Away,” a progressive rock masterpiece with Celtic and classical influences.
Dave Bainbridge launched a Patreon site where fans will be able to hear musical ideas and news of new projects and releases before anyone else.
(headline photo: Dave Bainbridge – Photo by Paul Johnson)
Related stories: Dave Bainbridge Interview
Discography:
The Eye Of The Eagle (Kingsway Music, 1998)
Veil Of Gossamer (Open Sky, 2004)
When Worlds Collide (Open Sky, 2005)
From Silence (Open Sky, 2005)
The Breaking Of The Dawn (Kingsway Music, 2007)
Life Journey (Lindisfarne Scriptorium, 2009)
Celestial Fire (Open Sky, 2014)
The Remembering (Open Sky, 2016)
To The Far Away (Open Sky, 2021)
Iona albums:
Iona (What? Records, 1990)
The Book of Kells (What? Records, 1992)
Beyond These Shores (What? Records, 1993)
Journey into the Morn (ForeFront Records, 1996)
Heaven’s Bright Sun, live (Alliance Music, 1997)
Woven Cord, live (Alliance Music, 1999)
Open Sky (Alliance Music, 2000)
The Circling Hour (Open Sky, 2006)
Live in London (Open Sky, 2008)
Another Realm (Open Sky, 2011)
Edge of the World: Live in Europe (Open Sky, 2013)