From a small town in Carmarthenshire to the world's most iconic stages, Iona Thomas is one of the UK's most distinctive and celebrated unsigned artists, weaving voice and harp into something entirely her own.
Iona's relationship with music began early. She picked up the harp at age seven and spent her teenage years performing as a soloist, singing in choirs and ensembles, and competing at some of Wales' most prestigious platforms — including the Welsh National Eisteddfod and the Welsh Young Ensemble of the year. By 2009 she began performing semi-professionally across the UK, building a reputation for captivating live performance long before she ever had a stage manager or a tour bus.
After graduating in 2011, Iona committed fully to life as a performer. Within a year she had won Sternberg Clarke's prestigious Next Big Thing competition. Early highlights included performances at the National Student TV Awards, the Scarlet FM Awards, a residency at the Park Plaza Hotel Westminster, and a defining moment as part of the Official Opening Event for the 2012 Olympic Games.
What followed was a remarkable run of international touring alongside some of the most celebrated names in contemporary music. Between 2012 and 2016 Iona toured with Laura Mvula, followed by Karen Elson in 2017 and Neneh Cherry in 2018 and 2019. Highlights include Glastonbury Main Stage, Coachella, the O2 Arena, the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, V Festival Main Stage, and the Birmingham LG Arena, as well as TV appearances on The Jonathan Ross Show, The Graham Norton Show, Later… with Jools Holland, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show with David Letterman.
From 2019 to 2021, Iona played in her band NOVACUB, touring festivals and supporting Kaiser Chiefs, Feeder and Ash — a chapter that showcased a bolder, band-driven side to her artistry.
Iona's work has contributed both backing vocals and/or harp to sessions for Coldplay, Tom Chaplin, Maxi Jazz, Mr Jukes and Nakhane, performed as harpist and vocalist alongside Mereki in 2023, and provided backing vocals for Victoria Canal across sessions in 2023 and 2024. More recently, she sang backing vocals for Laura Mvula during Coldplay's headline set at Glastonbury 2024 — one of the most-watched festival performances of the year — and featured on Coldplay's 2025 BBC Live Piano Room session. Iona rounded out 2025 on a fitting high, performing as a backing vocalist for Laura Mvula at Birmingham Symphony Hall alongside the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Alongside her solo and session work, Iona is a current member of London Contemporary Voices, one of the UK's leading professional choirs.
Classically trained yet entirely at home in pop and contemporary music, Iona now focuses on functions and weddings — work that fits beautifully alongside family life. With a career spanning the world's biggest stages and most intimate occasions alike, she brings the same warmth, professionalism and artistry to every performance.