Fans of ‘prog rock’ icons Ian Anderson and the Jethro Tull band have a treat in store with two special events announced for 2020:
- Ian Anderson on Jethro Tull (extra dates in May now added) and
- The Prog Years Tour 2020 with 11 dates during September and October by one of the world’s most successful and enduring ‘progressive rock’ bands.
Ian Anderson on Jethro Tull
Ian Anderson will be visiting a number of England’s slightly smaller venues, in April and May, for Ian Anderson on Jethro Tull, an intimate evening of performance and chat with archive video footage covering his career and the history of Jethro Tull.
Ian will be accompanied by guitarist Joe Parrish. The audience will be invited to pose interesting and challenging questions, a format following that of the successful Rubbing Elbows with… tours in America in 2002/3.
Ian Anderson said: “I’m looking forward to visiting some lesser played Tull songs and receiving some tricky questions from the audience!”
For the ardent Jethro Tull fan, this is an event not to be missed.
Ian Anderson on Jethro Tull dates:
Mon 20 April Yeovil Westlands
Tues 21 April Bristol St George’s
Wed 22 April Cheltenham Town Hall
Sun 3 May Lincoln Drill Hall
Mo 4 May Leeds City Varieties
Tues 5 May Buxton Opera House
Sun17 May London Blackheath Halls
Mon 18 May Southend on Sea Palace Theatre
Tues 19 May Guildford G Live
Tickets available direct from venues on 23rd November .
The Prog Years Tour 2020
The Prog Years Tour 2020 tour, 11 dates across the UK in September and October, will draw heavily on material from Jethro Tull’s more ‘prog’ albums, much of it focusing on the early ‘heavy hitters’ of the Tull catalogue, classic albums including Stand Up, Benefit, Aqualung, Thick As A Brick, Passion Play and even a touch of Thick As A Brick 2 from 2012.
From the outset, Tull’s frontman Ian Anderson created the distinctive persona of the tousled flute-playing minstrel, balanced on one leg and playing music with an historical slant. Jethro Tull continues to hold a unique place in the hearts of progressive music fans and these albums are the focus of that passion.
Ian says: “Dusting off many older “progressive” songs amongst my earliest attempts to experiment outside the blues repertoire we began with has proved hugely enjoyable. Along the way, over the last 50 years, there have been a good few pieces that still strongly resonate with me today on either a musical or lyrical level. Hopefully both. Some are really tricky to play; some might sound that way but fall under the fingers quite naturally although the overall arrangements require feats of memory! Test my marbles; come to the party!”
Ian Anderson will be accompanied by Tull band musicians David Goodier (bass), John O’Hara (keyboards), guitarist Joe Parrish and Scott Hammond on drums. The show will be enhanced by full scale video projection.
The Prog Years Tour 2020 dates are:
Wednesday 30 September Aylesbury The Waterside
Thursday 1 October Leicester De Montfort Hall
Saturday 3 October Blackburn St George’s Hall
Sunday 4 October Perth Concert Hall
Monday 5 October Glasgow Pavilion Theatre
Tuesday 6 October Stoke-On-Trent Victoria Hall
Thursday 8 October London Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Friday 9 October Brighton Dome
Saturday 10 October Poole Lighthouse
Monday 12 October Reading Hexagon
Tuesday 13 October Bath The Forum
Tickets available from: https://www.gigantic.com/jethro-tull-tickets or from the venues direct.
About Jethro Tull
Ian Anderson formed a blues and jazz fusion band in the mid-60s and the name changed frequently until an agent, with an interest in history, booked them as Jethro Tull, and the name stuck. Ian took up the flute, as he felt he would never match Eric Clapton as a guitarist as and, with a coat purchased to keep out the cold in a draughty bedsit, the image of the tousled, flute-wielding minstrel was born.
Tull’s debut album This Was received favourable reviews and sold well upon its release in 1968. The commercial break though came the following year when Living In The Past, with it’s unusual 5/4 time signature, reached number 11 in the singles chart and an appearance on Top Of The Pops, performing the number 4 hit The Witch’s Promise brought Tull to a much wider audience.
Musically, an historical theme was developing which Anderson exploited as the creative force behind a series of critically acclaimed albums including Stand Up, Benefit, Aqualung, Thick As A Brick and Passion Play.
Jethro Tull became one of the most distinctive and original bands to fall under the ‘progressive rock’ umbrella and that still sets them apart as one of the best-loved bands of the genre.
Over 50 years on, Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull continue perform some 70 to 100 shows each year around the world. Anderson’s energy and enthusiasm for his music still makes Jethro Tull concerts an experience to savour.
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