Martin Barre, the longtime guitarist for progressive rock band Jethro Tull, has postponed his upcoming concert at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg.
Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre: “Aqualung” 50th Anniversary Tour, originally set for 8 p.m. Thursday, has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. March 23.
All tickets for the original performance will be honored, according to a notice on The Palace website. Those with ticket inquiries or unable to attend on the new date should contact the original point of purchase by 5 p.m. March 10.
The tour announced that, although fully vaccinated and boosted, three members of Barre’s band have contracted covid-19.
In addition to Barre, the tour features original members of the progressive British rock band, Dee Palmer and Clive Bunker, along with Barre’s touring band, featuring lead vocalist Dan Crisp, keyboardist Alan Thomson, drummer Darby Todd and vocalists Becca Langsford and Alex Hart.
Although Jethro Tull was well-known for its overcoat-clad, long-haired flutist and front man, Ian Anderson, Barre’s show honoring the 1971 concept album goes flute-less.
“We do have a flute player, and it’s me. But do I get my flute out of my suitcase? No, I don’t,” Barre said. “At nearly every show, there’s somebody that will say, ‘Where’s the flute?’ and they want their money back. But there’s only one person.
“No, there isn’t a flute, though if I say so myself, I am a proper flute player,” he said. “Right now we have two guitars to play all the flute parts, and it gives a new slant to the music. It refreshes it.”
For the extended flute solo in the track, “My God,” Barre said, “I have a very nice surprise in its place, but I’m not gonna say what it is. But when people hear it, they’re astounded.”
Concertgoers won’t hear “Aqualung” played beginning to end, either. The acoustic numbers are grouped together.
“The audiences just love it, and it’s a real contrast to the rest of the set,” Barre said. “We road-tested it in Europe a few months ago, and we tweaked it here and there. Some of the tracks I thought would be difficult to do have really become highlights of the set.”
Tickets for the show at The Palace are $49.75 and $59.75, floor seating only. Tickets purchased at the door are an additional $5. Masks are required inside the theater.
For more information, call 724-836-8000 or visit thepalacetheatre.org.
