Ian Anderson Books 2016 Dates For ‘Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera’

Ian Anderson’s rock opera dedicated to English agricultural inventor Jethro Tull returns to the U.S. in 2016. The April outing includes gigs in Kansas City, Indianapolis, Nashville and Atlanta.

The show isn’t stuck in the 1700s, back when Tull perfected a horse-drawn seed drill and developed a horse-drawn hoe. Instead, Anderson reimagines the British rock band’s namesake “with a narrative set in the near future.” Topics covered in the rock opera include climate change, intensive food production and population growth.

Attendees will get to hear favorites such as “Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath,” and “Heavy Horses” as well as new material.

Photo: AP Photo / Keystone
Montreux Jazz Festival, Stravinski Hall, Montreux, Switzerland

Anderson is joined on tour by guitarist Florian Opahle, bassist David Goodier, orchestra conductor/pianist/keyboardist/accordion player John O’Hara, drummer/percussionist Scott Hammond and virtual guests. Anderson plays flute, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, and harmonica. Oh, and he sings too!

With the promise of more dates to be announced, here’s how the U.S. schedule stands today:

April 1 – Waukegan, Ill., Genesee Theatre    
April 2 – Appleton, Wis., Fox Cities Performing Arts Center          
April 4 – Kansas City, Mo., Uptown Theater
April 7 – Fort Wayne, Ind., Embassy Theatre
April 8 – Indianapolis, Ind., Murat Theatre   
April 11 – Akron, Ohio, Akron Civic Theatre           
April 13 – Nashville, Tenn., Ryman Auditorium
April 15 – Montgomery, Ala., Montgomery Performing Arts Centre           
April 16 – Atlanta, Ga., Fox Theatre

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. local time.

Visit Jethrotull.com for more information.