LANCASTER: The Gregson Centre

Friday 3rd August, 2018

7:00pm

Event information

£8 in advance (£6 concessions), £10 on the door (£8 concessions)

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Iona Lane is a folk singer, musician and songwriter from Lancaster who is currently based in Leeds.

Iona has released three EPs. Her latest EP, ‘Pockets’ was nominated for ‘Best EP’ in FATEA Annual Awards 2017.

Iona has supported a range of artists around the country. Highlights include: Edgelarks (Downend Folk Club, Bristol), Iona Fyfe (Big Comfy Bookshop, Coventry), The Askew Sisters (Uxbridge Folk Club, London), Ken Nicol (Christ Church, Glasson), Luke Jackson (Lancaster Castle, Lancaster), Blair Dunlop (Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal), Larkin Poe (The Convent, Stroud), State Of The Union: Boo Hewerdine and Brooke Williams (Acoustic Roots, Wigan), Joe McCorristion (The Yorkshire House, Lancaster), James Kirby (Lancaster).

Headline shows have included EP launches, embarking on a short London tour in August 2017: Folkroom Fortnightly at The Harrison (King’s Cross); The Gladstone Arms (Southwark); and The Spice of Life (Soho). In spring 2018 Iona embarked on village hall tour with Kate Howden.

Iona has played at a number of events/festivals, including: Solfest (2016 and 2017), Lancaster Music Festival (2016 and 2017) and a few open sets at Cambridge Folk Festival (2015 and 2016).

Iona played live on BBC Radio Lancashire on the 2nd April 2016, and appeared on BBC North West Tonight on 3rd June 2016. I appeared as a guest on James Fraser’s Mystery Hour on Beyond Radio in April 2017. A track from Iona's latest EP, 'Pockets' was played by BBC Introducing in Lancashire in January 2018.

Iona was part of FATEA’s Summer Showcase 2015, appeared on BBC North West Tonight for BBC Music Day 2016 and is endorsed by Tanglewood Guitars.

"IONA LANE treats us to a short set of Joni-flecked indie folk. The five tracks were lovely, simple and acoustic but the highlight was yet another song that transported the Frenchay faithful to a different place. Her version of the traditional The Loch Tay Boat Song stopped time. Scots to its very bones and seriously beautiful. An utter treat." - Gavin McNamara, Downend Folk Club (2018)

"The music was lovely... Something really special. Iona's voice was at its very best singing both traditional and modern folk songs as well as gorgeous harmonies for Kate.” - Tony Birch, FATEA (2018)

"It will interesting to watch Iona's progress as she moves towards her debut album." - Gary Smith, Laurel Canyon Music (2017)

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Robert Lane is a singer songwriter based in the UK. He released Only a Flight Away on the 27th of April. This is Robert’s third record following his self-titled debut album and his 2016 extended EP Ends and Starts.

Fatea Magazine have described Only a Flight Away as “an outstanding release…one of the first essential albums of 2018" and the album has been album of the week or featured album on several radio shows.

Robert has toured extensively in the UK as a support for artists including Jenn Bostic, Sarah Darling, Nell Bryden and Bob Fox. His spring 2018 solo headline tour to support Only a Flight Away has recently concluded and he will embark on a fifth tour in Germany and first visit to Holland in June. In June 2017 he completed a joint headline tour with Nashville based singer Kyshona Armstong.

Robert was chosen by the LG Arena to perform in the Forum Live area of the arena before concerts by Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Ellie Goulding and John Mayer. In July 2015 he once again performed at the newly re-branded Genting Arena before a concert by Fleetwood Mac.
In August 2013 he was selected to attend a song writing retreat/course with Kinks front man Ray Davies.

Praise and reviews
“Robert Lane attended my songwriting course at Dartington in 2013. Robert responded well to composition and exercises given. As the course became more intensive his progress was excellent throughout. I am pleased to recommend Robert to continue his music and develop his writing so that he can reach his full potential.” Ray Davies songwriter and frontman of The Kinks

"a talented songwriter and singer. EP Ends and Starts is full of deceptively simple songs with clever and witty lyrics across a range of styles." R2 Magazine

"Check out the vibrant new song from Robert Lane." Telegraph Music

"His confidence, wit and persona reflect a performer born for the stage...he is surely set to thrive in the future on both the local and wider
singer-songwriter circuit." Three Chords and the Truth

“(his) songs all have a fantastic melodic core…really intrigued by the melody…it’s particularly sweet.” Alan Clifford BBC Radio Nottingham drivetime

Reviews for Only a Flight Away
“an outstanding release…one of the first essential albums of 2018.” Fatea Magazine

"‘Far Too Busy’ has one of the best opening couplets I’ve heard in years...This is a bloody good record." Folking.com

"a marked increase in confidence and prowess" The Mike Davies Column

"his momentum is building and his playing skills are very strong... an interesting release that enhances a growing reputation as Robert Lane continues to hone his signature sound." Lonesome Highway

"Impressive in its scope, ONLY A FLIGHT AWAY is almost a compendium of styles...bluesy Baby Knows could not be more different from Hoping for Anything (But You), yet they're both distinctly Robert Lane through and through." Northern Sky Magazine