Iona Thomas is a London based Singing Harpist from Carmarthenshire, Wales who has gone on to become one of the UKs top unsigned cover artists. Iona has had a love for music from a young age, taking up the harp aged 7. She spent her teenage years taking part in various performances both as a soloist and as a member of various choirs and ensembles, as well as competing in competitions including the Welsh National Eisteddfod and the Young Ensemble of Dyfed. On starting university in 2008, Iona began to pursue her ambition to become a musician by working as a semi professional singer in various pubs, clubs and events around the UK.
After graduating university in 2011 Iona became a full time performer and within a year had won Sternberg Clarke's 'Next Big Thing' competition. Iona went on to perform at various events including the National Students TV Awards, Scarlet FM Awards and the Official Opening Event for the 2012 Olympic Games as well as having a resident performing spot at the Park Plaza Hotel Westminster.
Iona then went on to tour with internationally with Laura Mvula between 2012 to 2016, with Karen Elson in 2017 and with Neneh Cherry in 2018 and now 2019. With these artists Iona has performed on various TV shows including Jonathan Ross, Graham Norton, Jools Holland, Jimmy Kimmel and The David Letterman show as well as on some of the world's biggest stages such as Glastonbury Main Stage, Coachella, The Nobel Peace Prize Concert, V Festival Main Stage, the O2 Arena and the Birmingham LG Arena.
As well as touring with Laura Mvula, Neneh Cherry and Karen Elson, Iona has also done session work for such artists as Maxi Jazz, Tom Chaplin, Mr Jukes and Nakhane.
Iona is now concentrating on her own path as a solo artist traveling Europe for various function gigs and writing her own original material.
While Iona specialises in pop and contemporary covers she has also been classically trained making her set suitable for any occasion.