Adding another rock legend to its 2017 lineup, Musikfest announced Friday that Jethro Tull frontman and flautist Ian Anderson will headline a night of the 10-day festival, performing a set of his band's greatest hits. 

The latest headliner for the 2017 festival, Anderson joins the already announced performers Santana on Aug. 4, Toby Keith on Aug. 10, The Band Perry on Aug. 11 and Lee Brice and Justin Moore on Aug. 12. The headlining acts for four nights of the festival, which runs Aug. 4 to 13, are still to be announced. 

Anderson will perform Sunday, Aug. 13, on Musikfest's Sands Steel Stage. Tickets for the show range from $39 to $59 and go on sale 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, to ArtsQuest members and 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, to the public at www.musikfest.org and 610-332-3378.

Why Musikfest's 2017 lineup has so much country so far

It won't be Anderson's first time appearing at Musikfest: Jethro Tull headlined in 2003 and 2008. 

As the founding lead singer, flute-player and multi-instrumentalist of Jethro Tull, Anderson led a band that fused blues and folk music into progressive rock. Both innovative and commercially successful, the band released 30 studio and live albums, including the classics "Aqualung" and "Thick as a Brick," selling more than 60 million copies after forming 1967. Anderson, who has been performing internationally for almost 50 years and has recorded seven solo album, will draw from Jethro Tull's entire career for the Musikfest performance.

The addition might help to placate the Musikfest fans who felt the lineup had been oversaturated with country acts. Four of the first five acts to be announced were country performers, but, along with Santana, Anderson contributes a prominent rock presence on the bill. 

Andrew Doerfler may be reached at adoerfler@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @adoerfler or on Facebook. 

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