Karnataka were formed in 1996 by founder member Ian Jones. Ian had started a project to record songs (in his home studio) written and performed in earlier bands. The project was augmented by additional musicians, some of whom Ian had previouly worked with. At the end of the recording the decision was made to continue the project as a band. The name Karnataka was chosen following Ian's trips to that region of India. The debut album Karnataka was positively reviewed by The Classic Rock Society who brought a much wider audience to the bands' music.

Encouraged, the band had already started writing the material that would eventually appear on their second album, The Storm. The band's second album was recorded between August-November 1999 in Ian's studio with mixing taking place at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth. Further live performances brought the band to the attention of record company Voiceprint through whom they are now distributed.

The band's third album Delicate Flame Of Desire was recorded with producer Steve Evans and mixed by Joe Gibb. The album brought the band's music to a much wider audience with Radio 2 airplay and widespread media coverage.

Still touring extensively, the band released a double live album, Strange Behaviour in 2004 to accompany what was to be the band's final tour after the existing line-up parted company.

Following a period of inactivity, Ian announced he was reforming Karnataka. The lineup evolved over a period of auditioning and rehearsals before settling on the lineup that went on to record the bands fourth studio album The Gathering Light. This lineup featured Gonzalo Carrera on keyboards, Enrico Pinna on guitars and Lisa Fury on vocals. The band was augmented for live work by drummer Ian Harris and backing vocalist Phillipa Cookman.

The new album, The Gathering Light was released in February 2010 to very positive reviews and went on to win Best Foreign Album at the World Web Prog Awards in Italy. The band continued to peform live before Lisa announced her intention to emigrate to Australia and eventually left the band.

Ian and Enrico used the opportunity to augment the band lineup with full time band members rather than the session musicians from the previous lineup. In 2011 the band announced new band members multi-instrumentalist Colin Mold and keyboard player Cagri Tozluoglu. Later in 2011 the band announced their new lead vocalist Hayley Griffiths, who had previously performed with global phenomena Riverdance and MIchael Flatley's Lord Of The Dance.

The band completed an extensive UK tour between January and March 2012, their most successful to date with several venues selling out. The band filmed their performance at The Met Theatre in Bury in high definition video for release on DVD/CD in Summer 2012. The band was joined by Matt McDonough for the tour.

The band are set to announce a further exrtensive UK and European tour for Autumn 2012 and are working towards a new studio album release.

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