Widespread Panic, the veteran jam rockers, have an upcoming tour of the Southern US as openers for The Allman Brothers Band.  They will then follow that up with their own headlining tour.

Next month Widespread Panic will be visiting nine cities along with the Allmans, kicking things off in Charlotte, NC on October 3-4.  Their headlining trek will kick off in Austin, TX on October 30-31, and will include two shows on November 27-28 in Charleston, SC.

Widespread Panic continues supporting their 10th studio set, “Free Somehow,” which follows “Earth to America,” released in 2006.  Last year their latest album was released after recording the set in Nassau, Bahamas.  For the record the band re-teamed with renowned producer Terry Manning (Jimmy Buffett, ZZ Top).

The new album “Free Somehow” is the first release of the band’s with Jimmy Herring, their new guitarist, who joined the group in 2007.  In 2002, following the death of Michael Houser, founding band member from cancer, McConnell stepped in as his replacement.

The band during the past year has also had several live releases come out.  They include the first three offering from their series “Widespread Panic Archives,” which are full concert series on CD.  “Carbondale 2000” was the firs release.  The band has also released “Valdosta 1989” as well as “Huntsville 1996.”

Jimmy Herring, Widespread Panic guitarist, will be taking a break from his band in order to launch his first solo US tour this spring.  A backing band of hand picked all-star musicians will accompany him.

The trek will visit 13 cities and kick off in Greensville, SC on April 24.  It will make its way to theaters and clubs throughout the Southern US before it heads west.  Several stops in Colorado will be made before the final show of the outing is made in Solano Beach, CA on June 21.

Herring joined Widespread Panic in 2007 after Michael Houser, the former guitarist, died of cancer.  Herring has tapped Jeff Sipe, drummer, Greg Osby, saxophonist, Scott Kinsey, keyboardist, and Oteil Burbridge, bassist, to back him on his tour.

Herring in a recent press release said getting to play with musicians breaking down the walls between genres of music and pushing the envelop is a rush of adrenaline.  All of the musicians inspire with each note they play.

Herring and band will be performing songs from “Lifeboat,” Herring’s solo effort from 2008, in addition to material from all of the musician’s musical catalogs.

The solo agenda of Herring’s doesn’t coincide current with the spring tour schedule of Widespread Panic’s.  The jam band will play three weekends: in Orlando on April 13-15; in Orange Beach, AL on April 17-19; and in Detroit Lakes, MN on July 22 and July 24.

Widespread Panic, The Avett Brothers, The Black Keys and The Black Crowes will be the headliners in Louisville, KY this summer at Forecastle Festival’s eighth annual event.

The activism, arts and music event is scheduled to take place in downtown Louisville at Riverfront Belvedere on July 10-12.  It is just one of three appearances at festivals this summer for Widespread Panic.  They will be performing two of the three nights of the festival.  According to a recent press release, another 65 Djs and artists will be announced during the coming weeks at the website of the festival’s.

The event, along with music, will be featuring showcases from over 60 non-profit and environmental groups, speakers, films, artists and more.

Headliners that have previously performed at Forecastle Festival include Sleater-Kinney, Girl Talk, De La Soul, The Disco Biscuits and Tortoise, along with speakers like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental activist.

Wilco, Beck, Widespread Panic, Steve Winwood and Ben Harper are some of the acts that have just been announced to join headliners Jack Johnson, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Radiohead for the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, a three day event taking place August 22-24 in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Outside Lands, a multi-faceted festival, is expected to have a lineup of eclectic artists as well as a broad range of amusement and entertainment options. These will include art installations, performance artists and interactive attractions.

In addition to the established acts and newcomers performing on five stages, San Francisco-based artists will also be brought to the event by the organizers to highlight its location. Sean Hayes, Matt Nathanson, Goapele, The Coup, Two Gallants, ALO, The Mother Hips and Primus will be some of the local bands performing in Golden Gate Park, which has been the site for many high profile concerts starting in the 1960s. Some of the other artists who will perform at the generation and genre crossing festival include Cold War Kids, Devendra Banhart, Regina Spektor, Broken Social Scene, Drive-By Truckers, Andrew Bird, Steel Pulse, Cafe Tacuba, Rodrigo Y Gabriela and Manu Chao. Other acts are set to be announced shortly.

Next month Widespread Panic, the veteran jam band, will release their tenth studio album, and this spring will be road testing their new material on a US outing.

The band will launch their one month tour in Washington, DC for a stand of two nights starting April 1.  They will then work their away across the eastern US, with multiple nights booked for Raleigh, NC; Savannah, GA; Orange Beach, AL; Chicago and New York City.  Widespread Panic will also perform on May 1 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

“Free Somehow,” the upcoming album from Widespread Panic, is due to released by Widespread Records on February 12.  It will be the first album released by the band with Jimmy Herring, their new guitarist, who last fall replaced George McConnell.  After Michael House, one of the founding members died of cancer in 2002, McConnell joined the band.

According to a recent press release, a majority of the new songs haven’t been road test yet, so the upcoming tour will be a live preview.  A few of the set’s tracks, including “Up All Night,” “Flicker” and “Boom Boom Boom” are on the band’s MySpace page or website.

Another song, “Walk on the Flood,” can be obtained with a donation of $10 to Make It Right, an organization which is helping rebuild New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Widespread Panic band members are sponsoring a neighborhood house as well.

“Free Somehow” is a followup to “Earth to America” from 2006, which hit the No. 48 spot on Billboard’s 200 chart and served to inspire “Earth to Atlanta,’ the double DVD set capturing a live show from the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

In addition, “Driving Songs Vol II,” was recently released by Widespread Panic.  It is exclusively available at its own download website.  The set is available in CD and download formats, and features 33 songs.  Each song comes from a different stop on the fall tour of the band’s.  Included are covers of “Enter Sandman” by Metallica and “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon.

Widespread Panic, the veteran jam group, in addition to touring this summer will also be retreating into the studio to start working on their tenth studio album.

The band will be launching their summer trek with two festival appearances, starting on June 9 in Lawrence, KS for the Wakarusa Festival and then followed the next week with the sixth headlining slot for the band at Bonnarro Festival in Manchester, TN.

In addition to the festival circuit, Widespread Panic will be performing a variety of three and two night runs throughout their summer trek.  They will kick things off with a stand of three nights at Red Rocks Amphitheater in suburban Denver.

According to their publicist, the band will also soon be heading into producer Terry Manning’s (ZZ Top, Lenny Kravitz) Bahamas recording studio to start working on their new album.  Next month Widespread Panic will be recording.  Their new album is scheduled to be released this fall.

The new album will be a followup to “Earth to America.”  The tour to support that album spawned a two DVD, live set entitled “Earth to Atlanta,” which was filmed at Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA.  According to a recent press release, the show was simulcast live into 115 cinemas all across the country.  Over 60,000 fans attended the show virtually.

The set will be the first release of the group’s with Jimmy Herring, their new guitarist, who joined the band last fall.

Widespread Panic, Wilco, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Oasis and Coldplay are among many acts which will be performing at the Austin City Limits fourth annual festival held in Austin, TX.  It will take place at Zilker Park on September 23-25 over eight stages.

Other performers for this year’s festival include Jason Mraz, The Walkmen, Mike Gordon, Leo Kottke, The Black Keys, The Doves, Tortoise, Keane, Robert Earl Keen, Zap Mama, Kasabian, Sleater-Kinney, Gov’t Mule, Franz Ferdinand, The Dukes, Steve Earle, Bloc Party, Built to Spill, Bob Mould, Death Cab for Cutie, The Arcade Fire, Thievery Corporation, Dierks Bentley, Jet, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Lyle Lovett, Robert Randolph and Jimmy Cliff.

In all, approximately 130 acts will be performing.  The event’s website contains ticket information and the confirmed line-up.

Charlie Jones, event producer said, we are very excited over the diversity of musical talent that will be performing at the Festival this year.  We strongly feel the lineup will have something for everyone.  The beautiful setting, stellar music and great accommodations for the music festival makes Austin City Limits Music Festival something people attend every year.

The festival, according to a recent press release, was created in “Austin City Limits” spirit, the long running show on public television which offers live performances from emerging and established artists