The Dixie Chicks [ tickets ] have unveiled the initial itinerary for a 40-plus city North American tour that launches July 21 in Detroit, and won't wind down until mid-November.

Dubbed "The Accidents & Accusations Tour"--taken from a line in the song "Easy Silence," which appears on the trio's forthcoming album, "Taking the Long Way"--the outing will travel the arena circuit.

According to a press release, tickets for all North American shows will go on sale over the first two weeks of June. Fans who purchase the band's new CD at Target stores in the US beginning May 23 will receive a password for an online presale, through which up to four tickets for most shows on the tour can be purchased.

In a statement, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines said the upcoming tour would be "more of an old-style rock show, not so much about theatrics and props but just about the music." She added, "To rock out, we used to have to pull out a cover tune, so it's nice to have your own songs to fill that part of the set."

As on their 2003 tour, the Chicks' backing band will be led by Austin, TX, musician David Grissom (Joe Ely, John Mellencamp). The group will also feature returning acoustic guitarist Keith Sewell, (Ricky Skaggs), Wallflowers drummer Fred Eltringham, Black Crowes/Chris Robinson guitarist Audley Freed, keyboardist Larry Knechtel (Simon & Garfunkel, Mamas & Papas, Beach Boys), former Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg, pedal steel player Pete Finney (Doug Sahm, Alison Moorer), Rod Stewart violinist Janna Jacoby and cellist John Krovoza.

During the upcoming shows, the band is expected to play songs from "Taking the Long Way," as well as all of its previous hits, according to a press release.

The Chicks will warm up for the tour by playing two London concerts to promote the June 12 international release of "Taking the Long Way." The group's first concert performance in two years will take place at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, the place where Maines caused a firestorm in 2003 by saying that she was "ashamed" that US President George W. Bush was a fellow Texan.

Meanwhile, the Dixie Chicks have announced that they've signed an exclusive, two year agreement with MSN, which will provide "the most comprehensive information on the band's new album and tour at www.dixiechicks.msn.com, according to a press release.

The MSN site will also stream select tracks from "Taking the Long Way" over the coming weekend, and will host a premiere of the entire album on May 22--the day before the album's official release. In addition, the site will serve as the web portal for the ticket pre-sale.

"Taking the Long Way" follows 2002's "Home," which has sold nearly 6 million copies in the US. The Dixie Chicks' two previous albums--1998's "Wide Open Spaces" and 1999's "Fly"--are certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America, signifying US sales of more than 10 million copies.