By Anne Leighton

Ian Anderson, known throughout the world of rock music as the flute and voice behind the legendary Jethro Tull, will be performing at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium; Ian will be performing a selection of acoustic and electric songs and tunes from the Tull back catalogue, as well as some news songs ~ some specifically written for the tour.

There’s a topical, animal, and musical feel to songs Ian’s sharing on this tour. “Wondering Again” (Tull’s 1972 song about “economic globalisation, population increase, pollution, climate change,” and “Bungle in the Jungle,” which the band hasn’t done in years will be heard along side of a new one, “Adrift and Dumbfounded,” about social pressure. “A Change of Horses,” a song Ian wrote for his collaboration with Ravi Shankar’s daughter sitar player Anoushka Shankar. A little Bach, new and old songs of hares, a summer song of woodland walks, a work that is currently unnamed…Ian Anderson is sharing it all on this tour.

Widely recognized as the man who introduced the flute to rock music, Ian Anderson remains the crowned exponent of the popular and rock genres of flute playing. In addition to classical flute, he also plays ethnic flutes and whistles together with acoustic guitar and the mandolin family of instruments, providing the acoustic textures, which are an integral part of most of the Jethro Tull repertoire.

Ian’s band includes David Goodier (Jethro Tull bassist), Scott Hammond (from Bristol, UK-based drummer), German rock and flamenco guitarist Florian Opahle, and classical musician John O’Hara, who also plays keyboards and accordion with Jethro Tull.

As a solo artist, Ian Anderson has recorded four diverse solo albums in his career: Walk into Light (1983), the flute instrumental Divinities (1995), which reached Number One on the Billboard Classical chart, and the more recent acoustic collections of songs, The Secret Language of Birds (2000), and Rupi’s Dance (2003).

In 2006, he was awarded a Doctorate in Literature from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, the Ivor Award for International Achievement in Music and, in the New Year’s Honours List 2008, an MBE for services to music. In 2008 he celebrated 40 years as a recording and performing musician.

IAN ANDERSON, NOVEMBER 20, 8PM, LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, 50 EAST MERRIMACK STREET IN LOWELL, MA
Tickets: from 37.75 and $57.75
Venue phone #: 978-454-2299
Venue site website : www.lowellauditorium.com

www.jethrotull.com
Official Jethro Tull radio: www.jethrotull.com/live365/jethrotullradio/mini/index.html