Jethro Tull has just announced that he is to perform on the main stage at The Royal Theatre on March 20 2011. Early in 1968 a group of young British musicians, born from the ashes of various failed regional bands, gathered together in hunger, destitution, and modest optimism in Luton, north of London. With a common love of blues and an appreciation, among them, of various other music forms, they started to win over a small but enthusiastic audience in the various pubs and clubs of southern England. The breakthrough came when they were offered the Thursday night residency at London’s famous Marquee Club in Wardour Street, Soho.
The early Jethro Tull released their first blues-oriented album, This Was, in the latter part of 1968 before moving on to more home-grown and eclectic efforts in 1969 with Stand Up and a flutter of single releases, including ‘Living In The Past’, in the UK market.
Jethro Tull were, by the mid-seventies, one of the most successful live performing acts on the world stage, rivalling Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and even the Rolling Stones. Surprising, really, for a group whose more sophisticated and evolved stylistic extravagance was far from the pop and rock norm of that era.
After 42 years at the bottom, at the top, and at various points in between, Tull are still performing typically more than 100 concerts each year. Ian Anderson and Martin Barre remain at the centre of a group of sometimes changing but highly capable – indeed excellent – musicians. Tickets are on sale costing from €38.60 on www.ticketmaster.ie as well as from The Royal box office on 0818 300 000. For further information check The Royal Theatre and Event Centre website on www.theroyal.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie
