Drive-By Truckers, the Southern alt-rockers, will continue on their headlining run through late spring and then provide opening support on the summer trek for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

The band continues its current trek on May 5 in Tucson, AZ. The outing extends through to a Tulsa, OK appearance on June 19 before the group joins Petty starting with a show on June 22.

The band, in addition to their arena support dates, also has several festival appearances lined up, including a slot at Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 6 as well as an appearance on August 15 at Mile High Music Festival in Denver.

The eighth studio album from Drive-By Truckers, “The Big To Do,” is a follow up to “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark,” their set from 2008. “The Big To Do” was released on ATO Records, the band’s new label, in March. David Barbe, the longtime producer of the band’s, produced the set. He also contributed on keyboards and guitar.

The album debuted on Billboard’s 200 chart at No. 22. To date it’s the band’s highest debuting release. Since the band was first formed in 1996 it has gone through over a dozen changes in personnel. However their latest set shows a lineup that is relatively stable. A majority of the band’s current line has played with the group for a minimum of seven years, except for Jay Gonzalez, keyboardist, who signed with the band in 2008.

Patterson Hood, Drive-By Truckers’ frontman said, I loved all the different line-ups we’ve had at various times. All of them have their own special things. This time, however it seems we have the possibility to go much farther. There is no bull or drama. Everyone seems happy being there. That’s a nice thing. We work very well together.

2010 Drive-By Truckers Concert Tour
May 2010
5 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
6 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
7 – Los Angeles, CA – Avalon
8 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore Auditorium
9 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino
12 – Salt Lake City, UT – In the Venue
13 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
14 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theater
15 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up
31 – George, WA – Sasquatch Festival

June 2010
3 – Dewey Beach, DE – Bottle & Cork
4 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Festival
5 – Hunter, NY – Mountain Jam
17 – Knoxville, TN – Sundown in the City
18 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom
19 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
22 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
23 – Omaha, NE – Qwest Center (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)

July 2010
3 – Oxford, ME – Nateva Music Festival
9 – Louisville, KY – Forcastle Festival
10 – Noblesville, IN – Verizon Wireless Music Center (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
13 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center United States (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
15 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
17 – Chicago, IL – United Center (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
20 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
22 – Auburn Hills, MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
24 – Burgettstown, PA – First Niagara Pavilion (w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)

August 2010
6 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
15 – Commerce City, CO – Mile High Music Festival