Iona Lane

Driven by awe and wonder of the natural world lona Lane delivers poetic songs, with subtle musical touches and contemplative melodies that link unheard stories with the world we find ourselves in today. 'Hallival' is the long awaited debut album from Glasgow-based folk singer and songwriter lona Lane. Having found herself fascinated by folklore and folk stories from across the UK 'Hallival' is inspired by natural landscapes, scientific discoveries, equality, human relationships and the supernatural, all tied together by a strong sense of place and a love for being in wild places creating something truly special. 'Hallival' charted at #36 in the Official Folk Album Charts and was named by Folk Radio UK as #27 in their 'Top Albums of 2022'.The album received wide spread press including in The Guardian, Walk Highlands, BBC Radio 2 and The Scotsman to name a few. In 2023 lona has been touring 'Hallival' extensively and joined Karine Polwart on a run of her tour dates in England. lona joined Karine on stage for a few songs, an awe inspiring opportunity for audiences to see these two artists sing together. The name 'Hallival' is taken after one of the mountains on the Isle of Rum, which inspired the writing for the opening track 'Western TidalSwell'. Karine Polwart and Julie Fowlis, amongst others, selected 'Western Tidal Swell' to win Feis Rois'/NatureScots' In Tune With Nature competition in 2020. With Andy Bell on production, lona and her band ventured to Watercolour Music (Ardgour, Highlands) for a week of recording in April 2020.The studio was chosen due to it's stunning location - every day the team woke up to herds of deers guarding the studio, ever changing weather and phenomenal views over to Ben Nevis. The lead single from the album 'Humankind', featuring Jenny Sturgeon on backing vocals, was written from the depths of the Lake District in Wasdale just before the first lockdown. Being the closing track on the album, it reflects on how important humans are to each other and the kindness that we can bring particularly whilst feeling isolated, a feeling that we all know too well after the past couple of years. 'Schiehallion' was written after discovering the Schiehallion Experiment that was carried out in 1774. During the experiment scientists from the Royal Society used the shape and location of Schiehallion to calculate the mass of the Earth for the first time. After a summer of calculations on the hill, the scientists and locals had a party in a nearby bothy. The fiddler got so drunk that they burnt their violin and the bothy to the ground. 'Schiehallion' features Lauren MacCollon on fiddle and Rachel Newton on harp. Any money raised from this single will go to the John Muir Trust who plant and restore mountain woodland on Schiehallion. Stemmed from being read 'Stone Girl Bone Girl, The Life of Mary Anning' by Laurence Ann Holt as a child, lona's song 'Mary Anning' focuses on the life of the groundbreaking paleontologist who lived and worked in Lyme Regis in the 1800s. Mary made vast contributions to the scientific world, however, due to her being a woman she was unable to present her findings and would often end up selling them to her colleagues who were men. Up until very recently Mary Anning has had little credit for her work.Having studied under the tuition of Nancy Kerr, Jim Moray and Stuart McCallum, lona has been praised throughout the scene for her delicate yet powerful vocals, which have captivated audiences up and down the country. lona was chosen by Karine Polwart to receive the Taran Guitars Young Players Bursary 2020.Since receiving the bursary luthier Rory Dowling, of Taran Guitars, has designed and built a bespoke instrument for lona's music. Doors and bar 7.00pm, music 7.15pm.