Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne has announced that he will undertake an acoustic tour that will keep him on the road for just about a month this summer. He will be joined at the dates by Nickel Creek founding member Sara Watkins.

The tour will kick off July 14 at the Belk Theater in Charlotte, N.C. and will continue through August 15 when the tour arrives at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Other cities the tour will visit include North Charleston, S.C.; Durham, N.C.; Philadelphia; West Long Branch, N.J.; Louisville, Ky. and Indianapolis, Ind. A July 29 date in Newport, R.I. will mark Browne’s first ever appearance at the Newport Folk Festival.

Browne is expected to perform songs from his entire catalog each night, moving between acoustic guitar and piano. Each night’s set list on the tour will be unique.

Watkins was known as a singer and fiddle player in Nickel Creek before going solo. She will release her second solo album, Sun Midnight Sun, prior to the trek on May 8. That album features a guest appearance by Browne, as well as appearances by Fiona Apple, Taylor Goldsmith, Sean Watkins and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ member Benmont Tench.

In a press release, Browne spoke of his excitement about his tour mate.

“I’m really excited to have Sara joining me on this tour,” he said in the statement. “We’ve played together a number of times in the last few years, sometimes on her show and sometimes mine, and it’s always been a thrill for me. I’m floored by her amazing instrumental virtuosity and by her beautiful voice, and most of all, I love her songs.”

It also was recently announced that Browne will play a benefit concert with Lizz Wright for Success Through The Arts Foundation and the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center. The concert will be held at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles on June 9, 2012.

Organizers of the Newport Folk Festival announced the lineup for this year’s event at a party near Boston last night, and My Morning Jacket and Jackson Browne will headline.

The two-day festival will take place on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday July 29 at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, R.I. Like all recent years, the festival features an eclectic mix of contemporary artists and established musical legends. Other notable acts include Iron & Wine, Conor Oberst, Patty Griffin, Spider John Koerner, The Tallest Man on Earth, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Head & the Heart, among many others.

Festival producer Jay Sweet issued a statement about the lineup announcement.

“There’s nothing better than knowing that there are thousands of people who love the Newport Folk Festival as much as we do and they want to see it live for years to come,” he said. “Our Folk Family proved it last year and they are proving it again as we listen to and read the many wonderful comments from people who have already planned to attend the festival even before this announcement. We are extremely humbled to have the support of the fans and the artists who help make Newport the best place in the world fro our annual Newport Folk Festival Family Reunion.”

The legendary festival was first held in 1959, and is a companion event with the Newport Jazz Festival, which is held at the same park usually in the same month as the folk festival. While at its beginning the festival only welcomed acoustic musicians, a shift came with Bob Dylan’s infamous electric set in 1965. Though many boos were heard and many of the old guard of folk music were upset with the performanceå, the festival now welcomes many folk-rock acts with electric instrumentation.

By popular demand, Jackson Browne’s Solo Acoustic Tour of 2011 has been extended. An additional series of dates for the U.S. have been added for the fall, starting in Interlochen, MI on September 23. For much of October, the outing will travel across the east coast and then continue to Northern California, wrapping up in Hanford, CA at Fox Theatre on November 12. Tickets are going on sale starting on June 10. Visit JacksonBrowne.com for pre-sale information. Details about special benefit seating can be found at guacfund.org.

The 2011 Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic Tour started in February. Browne plays piano and guitar and performs songs that span the entire musical catalog of his lengthy career, with set lists that vary each evening. Jackson brings various guitars out with him on the road. This time he will be taking the newly released Jackson Browne Gibson Signature acoustic guitar with him. The guitar is handmade and inspired by the legendary 1930′s Gibson Roy Smeck model. It’s the first guitar bearing Jackson Browne’s name.

Solo performances of Browne’s have been captured with two lives albums: 2005′s “Jackson Browne- Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1,” which was nominated for a Grammy, and 2008′s “Jackson Browne- Solo Acoustic, Vol. 2”. Both sets were released by Inside Recordings. Anthony DeCurtis in his four star Rolling Stone review of Volume 2 wrote Browne, between songs, speaks of his music and life with candor that is moving. Browne’s at this best here. He engages his audience, the world surrounding him and his own experiences, all in songs which won’t be losing their resonance for a very long time.

Jackson Browne is ready to embark on a 34-city tour across the US with cohort David Lindley. The adventure will set sail July 18 in Rancho Mirage, California and run through September 24 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A full outline of Jackson Browne tour dates are fleshed out below.

Browne’s last studio effort was 2008s “Time the Conquerer,” and he used most of last year touring in support of it. He’ll be joined on the road by his backing band comprised of Kevin McCormick (bass), Mauricio Lewak (drum), Mark Goldenberg (guitar) and Jeff Young (keyboard, vocals). Browne’s partner in crime on this trek is David Lindley, a 70s sideman who worked with Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne and Crosby & Nash back in the glory days. He made a name for himself when he broke through in the early 80s with the album “El-Rayo-X.” He’s currently supporting his latest effort “Mercury Blues.” Jackson Browne and David Lindley will be releasing a two-disk live set gathering performances from the duos 2006 tour. Look for it in stores on May 11.

2010 Jackson Browne Concert Tour
July 2010
18 – Rancho Mirage, CA – Agua Caliente Casino
20 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint
21 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s
23 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
24 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre
27 – Eugene, OR – Cuthbert Amphitheater
30 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste Michelle
31 – Goldendale, WA – Maryhill Winery

August 2010
2 – Boise, ID – Idaho Botanical Gardens
3 – Bozeman, MT – Theater at The Brick
5 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
7 – Sioux City, IA – Orpheum Theatre
8 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
10 – St. Louis, MO – Fox Theatre
11 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theater
13 – Grand Prairie, TX – Nokia Theatre
15 – Atlanta, GA – Chastain Park Amphitheater
24 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Concert Pavilion
25 – Portsmouth, VA – nTELOS Pavilion
27 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Presents the Oakdale Theatre
28 – Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion
30 – Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Performing Arts Center

September 2010
1 – Scranton, PA – Toyota Pavilion
2 – West Long Branch, NJ – MAC Center – Monmouth University
4, 5 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Spa & Resort Event Center
7 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre
9 – Hershey, PA – Star Pavilion at Hersheypark Stadium
11 – Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theatre
12 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap at The Filene Center
14 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
18 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
19 – Cleveland, OH – Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City
21 – Indianapolis, IN – The Lawn at White River State Park
23 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
24 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theatre