Jethro Tull will release their 23rd studio album, titled RökFlöte (pronounced: “Rock Flute”), on Friday (April 21st). The new 12-track set is based on the characters and roles of some of the principle gods of the old Norse paganism, and at the same time exploring the rock flute, which Jethro Tull has made iconic.

Tull leader Ian Anderson told us that his concert setlists have always been peppered with the classics everyone loves: [“Generally speaking, I suppose we do because there are certain pieces — most obviously ‘Aqualung’ and “Locomotive Breath’ — I think feature pretty much in nearly every Jethro Tull concert. And there are a few others that are frequent visitors. We’ll often play a bit of ‘Thick As A Brick’ and the instrumental ‘Bouree.’ A few frequent travelers.”] SOUNDCUE (:20 OC: . . . few frequent travelers)

He went on to explain that the Tull strives to include songs from the band’s entire career — which is how they prefer it: [“Many of our concerts since 1969 would be hopefully representative of the bigger picture of Jethro Tull. So y’know we’ve been trying to, y’know as a matter of policy really, trying to do concerts that I suppose pick out some of the highlights of what is an increasingly long time doing what we’re doing.”] SOUNDCUE (:19 OC: . . . what we’re doing)

JUST ANNOUNCED: Jethro Tull North American tour dates (subject to change):

August 18 – Highland Park, IL – Ravina Festival
August 19 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
August 20 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights
August 22 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
August 24 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
September 26 – San Diego, CA – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
September 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
September 29 – Lincoln, CA – Thunder Valley Casino Resort
September 30 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery
October 1 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts at Ruth Finley Person Theater
October 27 – Hampton, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
October 28 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
October 29 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
November 1 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
November 2 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
November 4 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre