Spiritual setting is feast for Ian's flute

Jethro Tull's frontman tells Jackie Butler why he's so excited about his fundraising concert at Exeter Cathedral

THE hallowed heights of Exeter Cathedral will reverberate to the tones of a rather different Christmas concert this month when Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson presents an acoustic performance for everyone who loves the spirit of the season.

The fundraising show on December 22 will support the cathedral's Third Millennium Campaign.

"It is not necessarily about the Christian festival," explains flute maestro and guitarist Ian who has fronted the experimental folk rock band for some 40 years.

"It is about all of us and that pivotal time towards the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

"We have a generic memory of the winter solstice as a time of rebirth. In purely geophysical terms we have a sense of it being a time of new beginnings.

"The Anglican church is used to interpretation and is generally less dogmatic, which is why I am happy to support it and the bricks and mortar part of our history.

"I feel quite invigorated by the sense of spirituality in the church and people coming together with some higher force."

Ian, who will spend Christmas Day in Wiltshire with his family and menagerie of animals, had never set foot in the cathedral until earlier this year when it was recommended as a venue and worthy cause to support by the Rev George Pitcher of St Bride's Church in London, the venue of Ian's last Christmas revels.

"Exeter Cathedral is a splendid example of architectural excellence and a glorious venue for those of all faiths, or none at all, to enter the House of the Holy and participate in the welcoming world of Christmas celebration.

"Whether your Christmas is a secular affair of gift-giving and family togetherness or a more worshipful recognition of one of the two big days in the Christian calendar, join us for some uplifting Christmas spirit, music, readings and maybe even a prayer or two."

The concert is part of a special end-of-year tour which sees Ian and his touring band – sadly without Devon-based Tull guitarist Martin Barre who has broken a finger – perform nine Christmas- themed shows in the Czech Republic and Germany, before heading for the Westcountry. As well as playing acoustic versions of some Jethro Tull classics, there will be seasonal and ecclesiastical songs, including new material written especially for this tour.

The Exeter date takes place on the birthday of Ian's daughter Gael (who is married to the actor Andrew Lincoln); one of the newer songs he will perform and – dedicate to Gael – is Birthday Card at Christmas, a reminder that it's not only the notional birth period of Jesus Christ, but that lots of people share birthdays at this time of year.

There will also be songs from the Jethro Tull Christmas Album of a few years back, and some perennial fan favourites.

"But I must stress that this isn't a Jethro Tull rock show – so it's not one for the headbangers or the slightly inebriated rock and roll crowd," says Ian. "The acoustics in the building are such that anything with percussive qualities can be tricky. Bring a drum kit into a church and you are asking for trouble – we don't let that stop us, though."

The Third Millennium Campaign is seeking to raise £8 million to support several areas of the traditional life of Exeter Cathedral, including the future of music and choral singing, restoration work to the organ, repairs and renovations to the building and to expand the library and archives.

The Dean of Exeter, the Very Reverend Jonathan Meyrick, is thrilled that Ian has chosen the cathedral as a venue for the show.

"I thank him for giving his time so generously to support the cathedral's campaign. I encourage both new and existing Jethro Tull fans to experience the magic of the band this Christmas within this wonderful setting that is our cathedral," he says.

Ian Anderson plays the Christmas Jethro Tull at Exeter Cathedral at 7.30pm on Tuesday, December 22. A small number of tickets are still available at £20 from the cathedral shop (01392 271354) or at £25 from the Exeter Phoenix box office (01392 667080).