IAN ANDERSON TELLS GRTR! ABOUT THE STRING QUARTETS

GRTR!'s Pete Feenstra recently chatted to IAN ANDERSON about the new album with The Carducci Quartet.

Nearly 50 years after the debut album from Jethro Tull, “Jethro Tull The String Quartets” is released on 24 March by BMG.

Although Ian has worked with classical orchestras previously this is the first time he has recorded an album specifically with a string quartet and therefore upholding a long tradition of composers such as Beethoven, Bartók and Britten.

He says: “I felt that there were some songs rather special to me which featured the string quartet such as A Christmas Song, Reasons For Waiting and Wond’ring Aloud. John (O'Hara) came up with a few suggestions of his own which presented challenges.”

Album review and interview

FESTIVAL FOCUS 2017

One of the big early summer festivals, BEARDED THEORY hosts SKUNK ANANSIE, SEASICK STEVE and MADNESS amongst many others (Catton Hall, South Derbyshire, 25-28 May).

Between 2-4 June ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN features FAIRPORT CONVENTION, MARTIN TURNER and NELL BRYDEN amongst many others (Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffordshire).

You can check out previous year festivals in our gig review archive.  Our 2016 rock festival coverage was unrivalled and we hope to be busy again this year, wellies permitting.

We've recently added reviews of Winter's End (26-28 February) and Hard Rock Hell AOR (9-11 March).

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Albums of the Month

	STEVE HACKETT The Night Siren (Inside Out) Hackett’s latest musical offering ... is an eleven track album which has been created with these very principles in mind; a continuous need to indulge in new themes and sounds and an amazing compositional skill in blending those ideas in a style of playing that is so very characteristically his. (Yiannis Stefanis)
	ASH WILSON Broken Machine (Wilson Brothers Music) The blues course through the veins of this album, and there’s not only some hugely impressive playing, but a ‘feel good’ factor that’s not easy to capture. If the blues ticks any of your boxes, then Broken Machine is well worth exploring.  (Pete Whalley)
	ERJA LYYTINEN Stolen Hearts (Tuohi) 'Stolen Hearts' is a lovingly crafted album, with enough musical and lyrical depth, as well as salient hooks to withstand extended scrutiny and satisfy its potential crossover market.  Unreservedly recommended. (Pete Feenstra)
	TOKYO MOTOR FIST (Frontiers) ...I can easily see this appearing in the 2017 best ofs. It may tread a well worn path but when it’s this good, who cares? .  (Andy Nathan)
	FIREWIND Immortals (AFM Records) Immortals’ sees a return to a more formulaic power metal approach which shouldn’t come as a surprise although some might argue it’s a retrograde step and plays more to their core fanbase.  (David Randall)