Ian Anderson presents: Christmas with Jethro Tull

Rock legends Jethro Tull are bringing The Christmas Jethro Tull concert to Southwark Cathedral this Christmas. Expect Christmas-theme Jethro Tull tracks, alongside several pieces of re-worked Classical repertoire and traditional pieces from the musical liturgy of the Church of England.

Ian Anderson, known throughout the world of rock music as the flute and voice behind the legendary Jethro Tull, is widely recognised as the man who introduced the flute to rock music.

Anderson will be joined by special guests Marc Almond and Loyd Grossman.

Marc Almond is an internationally acclaimed and successful artist. He has sold over 38 million records worldwide and is an icon and influence to a generation of musicians.

He was born in Southport, a seaside town in the north of England, in 1957. After an unsettled childhood of moving to Harrogate, Leeds and back to Southport, of illness and learning difficulties he finally left school at 17 with few qualifications. As a teen he worked in Southport Theatre and on Southport fairground while singing in a local band, covering hits of the day. After school he spent five years at art college including a three year Fine Art BA course at Leeds Polytechnic where he left in 1979 with a BA Honors. At art college he developed his style of mixing experimental performance and cabaret pop with music and film studies. He began visiting London and worked in Soho during college breaks, documenting his experiences in his early performances; Zazu, Twilights and Lowlifes and Glamour in Squalor. It was at Leeds Poly that he met David Ball and together they formed the internationally successful 'electro duo' Soft Cell in 1979.

Sir Loyd Grossman CBE is an entrepreneur, author and broadcaster. Born in Boston in 1950, he began his career as a journalist writing for music publications including Rolling Stone, Fusion, and Vibrations whilst studying as an undergraduate at Boston University (BA).

He went on to work for Harpers & Queen and The Sunday Times before becoming a writer and presenter for a wide range of television programmes including Through the Keyhole, MasterChef, Behind the Headlines, History of British Sculpture, Loyd on Location and Build Britain. He also wrote and presented a series, Composers at Home, for BBC Radio 3.

Ian says of the show, “Whether your Christmas is a secular affair of gift-giving and family gatherings or a more worshipful recognition of one of the two biggest days in the Christian calendar, join us for some uplifting Christmas spirit, music, readings and maybe even a prayer or two.”

The self-professed non-believer nonetheless claims a huge affinity for the deeds and traditions of Christianity. In his support for the both the religion and the actual places of worship, he performs most years in our great cathedrals and churches – and a few little ones too!

“The bringing together of people of all backgrounds, cultures and faiths in this way is possible, perhaps, only under the auspices of modern Christianity, especially the Anglican Church. So, if I can help to draw people in to these beautiful and historic buildings to savour just a little of the spirit of Christmas, it seems like a worthwhile effort.

“The profits from the sales of tickets go to the upkeep of these sacred buildings and, perhaps, also in support of the musical liturgy of the church. I try to balance the festive time of year in song with a few of the elements of an old-fashioned carol service. All delivered with good humour and good cheer. Grace me and, hopefully, a few special guests with your presence for some of the best-known repertoire of Jethro Tull and a few snippets of seasonal traditional church and Classical music.”

Join Ian and his band for a moment of pre-christmas madness, goodness and togetherness.

Doors will open at 18:30.

A bar will be available before the concert and during the 20 minute interval. The Cathedral operates a Challenge 25 policy so please bring ID.

This is a fundraising event for Southwark Cathedral.