The tour will be kicking off on April 28th in 28th Brighton at the Dome and will be concluding with two nights at the 02 Shepherds Bush Empire in London on May 24th and 25th.

The Progressive Music Awards will be taking place on September 3rd in London and are spearheaded by Day in Rock news partner Prog Magazine. Here is what Anderson had to say about his Prog God Award honor and addressed a controversial past honor he received, "After winning the Grammy for best 'Hard Rock/Metal" album back in 1988, this seems like an opportunity to justify that strange and misplaced accolade with a new album to celebrate the more forceful, full-on rock credentials which are found in many of my songs over the last 45 years.

"It's not an end to the acoustic and gentler moments but more of an emphasis on the louder aggressive flute style which marked me out from the earliest days of Jethro Tull."

He adds, "The innocent voyage of restless souls: that's prog rock. Sometimes bombastic, self-indulgent and worse, it is also an honest, gut-felt reaction to the often simplistic and repetitive nature of much of pop and rock.

"It is, indeed, an honour to receive this illustrious Prog award and dwell in such lofty heights amongst the good and the great of the last forty-plus years. I remain very happy to inhabit the progressive rock world, as both performer and listener.

"And where else could a self-taught, mediocre but extremely loud flute player make a decent living? Not in country and western, I would suppose. But, hey: if the boots fit and the buckskin-fringed coyote crooner calls, then count me in Cowboy! Brokeback Mountain could never sound sweeter."

Prog Magazine Editor Jerry Ewing had this to say, "For 45 years Ian has been playing live, and I don't think I have ever seen two shows the same! It doesn't matter if its Jethro Tull or Ian on his own – its always magnificent, groundbreaking and captivating. Without him rock would be a very different and lesser place, so to announce him as our Prog God at the same time as he announces a UK tour seems hugely fitting."

Anderson will be touring in support of his forthcoming album, which he describes as a 'Folk-Prog-Metal' concept album. The album will be released next year and fans can expect to hear tracks from the effort along with Jethro Tull classics on the tour.

April
28th Brighton Dome
29th Southampton Guildhall