Ian Anderson has revealed a list of his 10 favourite folk-rock albums.
And while he credits artists including Roy Harper, Pentangle and Fairport Convention, he reserves special praise for English singer/songwriter Seth Lakeman.
Picking out Lakeman’s 2008 record Poor Man’s Heaven, Anderson reckons he’s “today’s top folk-rock musician.”
The Jethro Tull icon tells Music Radar: “He’s someone who I think has a musical approach that belongs right back in the early 70s but he’s doing it in the new millennium. To me he does it in a very familiar-sounding way.
“Poor Man’s Heaven brought him into the more rock field and it’s more rhythmic and a lot more solid in the bass and drums department.
“For me, he definitely qualifies as today’s top folk-rock musician.”
Another album to make the shortlist is Steeleye Span’s Parcel Of Rogues from 1973. And while Anderson is credited as the producer on its follow-up, 1974’s Now We Are Six, he’s quick to play down his contribution.
He says: “I only really ‘produced’ in the sense that I supervised the mix – other than getting David Bowie to come and play saxophone on one of the tracks!”
Anderson recently revealed he’ll premiere five new tracks in his Jethro Tull – The Rock Opera shows. He’s also just started his ‘Best Of Jethro Tull’ tour which sees him play at the TeamRock-sponsored Ramblin’ Man Fair at Mote Park, Kent on July 26.
Anderson’s top 10 folk-rock albums
Come Out Fighting Genghis Smith – Roy Harper
The Pentangle – Pentangle
Liege And Lief – Fairport Convention
Parcel Of Rogues – Steeleye Span
John Barleycorn Must Die – Traffic
After The Break – Planxty
Vihma – Varttina
EastWind – Andy Irvine And Davy Spillane
Red – The Young Dubliners
Poor Man’s Heaven – Seth Lakeman
IAN ANDERSON ‘BEST OF JETHRO TULL’ TOUR DATES
Jun 27: Kloften Festival, Denmark
Jul 18: Roots Festivalen, Norway
Jul 23: Winterback Festival, Germany
Jul 24: Ansbach Castle, Germany
July 26: Ramblin’ Man Fair, UK
Aug 28: Summerdays Festival, Switzerland
Aug 30: Bochum Zeltfestival Ruhr, Germany
JETHRO TULL – THE ROCK OPERA 2015 TOUR DATES
Sep 18: The Anvil, Baningstoke, UK
Sep 10: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK
Sep 11: Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK
Sep 12: Barbican, York, UK
Sep 13: Sage Theatre, Gateshead, UK
Sep 14: Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford, UK
Sep 18: Crocus City Hall, Moscow, Russia
Sep 19: DK Lensoveta, St Petersburg, Russia
Oct 24: Roundhouse, London, UK
Nov 01: Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, USA
Nov 03: Fox Theatre, Detroit, MI, USA
Nov 05: Citi Performing Arts Centre, Boston, MA, USA
Nov 06: Kings Theatre, Brookyln, NY, USA
Nov 07: Academy Of Music, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Nov 08: Grand Theatre, Mashantucket, CT, USA
Nov 10: Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY, USA
Nov 11: Prudential Hall, Newark, NJ, USA
Nov 20: Barts, Barcelona, Spain
Nov 21: Victo Villegas, Murcia, Spain
Nov 23: Nuevo Apolo, Madrid, Spain
