North dates for Jethro Tull legend Ian Anderson
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Prog rock icon Ian Anderson will play Inverness and Aberdeen in May - tickets go on sale on September 4.
The Jethro Tull frontman, legendary for his flute-playing - sometimes on one leg! - plays the dates at Aberdeen Music Hall on May 20 and Eden Court on May 21. The shows have no support and begin at 7.30pm.
The tour supports the release of his new concept album to be recorded early next year and released around Easter.
Anderson will also be recognised with a Prog God award at this year's Progressive Music Awards.
He's touring throughout next year and the show will feature a selection from his upcoming 2014-release concept album - which he defines a "folk-prog-metal" - together with a selection of Jethro Tull highlights.
The release will feature heavier, less acoustic guitar sounds and more of Anderson’s trademark flute, he has revealed.
He said: “After winning the Grammy for best hard/rock/metal album back in 1988, this seems like an opportunity to justify that strange and misplaced accolade with a new album to celebrate the more forceful, full-on rock credentials which are found in many of my songs over the last 45 years.
"It's not an end to the acoustic and gentler moments but more of an emphasis on the louder aggressive flute style which marked me out from the earliest days of Jethro Tull.”
On winning the Prog God award, Anderson said: "It is, indeed, an honour to receive this illustrious prog award and dwell in such lofty heights amongst the good and the great of the last 40-plus years. I remain very happy to inhabit the progressive rock world, as both performer and listener.
"And where else could a self-taught, mediocre but extremely loud flute player make a decent living? .”
His current Thick As A Brick tour – included a one-off performance at the Royal Albert Hal. Tickets for the 2014 shows are expected to go fast when they go on sale on September 4 from the venues and from 9am online booking: www.gigantic.com/artist/ian-anderson . For venue booking details, call Aberdeen Music Hall on 01224 632 080 and Eden Court, Inverness, on 01463 234 234. Tickets are subject to booking fee.
