Robert Plant to tour with Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller; 12 summer dates announced for Band of Joy

Robert Plant will be joined on tour in a new lineup featuring Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller, according to an announcement posted this morning on Plant's official Web site.

His new band, given the recycled name Band of Joy after a pre-Zeppelin band he fronted and that at one time featured his future Led Zeppelin bandmate John Bonham, consists of the musicians who appear on his upcoming album, mentioned in today's statement not by name but tentatively scheduled for release on the Rounder label late this summer or early in the fall. Miller is listed as a co-producer of the album.

A dozen concerts have been announced for the Southern United States, opening July 13 in Memphis and so far continuing only until July 31. This is only the first leg of tour dates, according to the release. Onsale dates vary between March and April; links posted below contain more specific information.

• July 13: Memphis, TN - The Orpheum Theater Information available in May
• July 15: Little Rock, AR -  Robinson Center Music Hall Ticket Info
• July 16: Tulsa, OK - Brady Theater Ticket Info (on sale already)
• July 18: Albuquerque, NM - Sandia Casino Amphitheater Ticket Info
• July 20: Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater Ticket Info
• July 21: Tucson, AZ - Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater Ticket Info
• July 23: Dallas, TX Meyerson Symphony Hall Ticket Info
• July 24: Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Ticket Info
• July 26: Austin, TX - Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater Ticket Info
• July 28: Mobile, AL - The Saenger Theatre Ticket Info
• July 30: Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Info
• July 31: Miami, FL - Bayfront Park Amphitheater Ticket Info

The full list of musicians joining Plant, Griffin and Miller in the Band of Joy, both in the studio and on the upcoming tour, also consists of:

• Darrell Scott, multiple instruments and vocals
• Byron House, bass and vocals
• Marco Giovino, drums, percussion and vocals

Miller is to play multiple instruments and sing, and Griffin is to sing. The Band of Joy is to be playing material from the new album. It would be Plant's first disc since Raising Sand in 2007, with Alison Krauss, who is mentioned in the release.

"Oh yes," Plant is quoted, as if responding to a question, "Alison and I get together quite often -- and sometimes we dance."

Of the new album, Plant says:

"It's been a blast working on these new songs -- and I'm enjoying such creativity and vitality. It's been a remarkable change of direction for all of us and as a group we all seem to have developed a new groove."