Alt-country rockers the Old 97's [ tickets ] are getting ready to head out on a North American jaunt that starts with Willie Nelson's annual Fourth of July Picnic in George, WA.

From there, the Dallas-bred quartet will hit Calgary, Alberta, and then criss-cross the US into mid-August. Along the way, Old 97's will stop by a few festivals, including Milwaukee's Summerfest. Details are listed below.

The Old 97's haven't released a studio album since 2004's "Drag It Up." That set, the band's sixth, was its first on the New West record label and was recorded old-school style on eight tracks. It brought the group back to its roots, mixing bluegrass, surf, country, rock, folk and psychedelia.

The following year, the Old 97's released their first live album, the double-CD "Alive and Wired," which includes versions of "Time Bomb" and "Won't Be Home," both of which are streaming at the band's MySpace page.

Last year, Rhino Records put out "Hit By a Train: The Best of Old 97's," which comprises songs recorded prior to "Drag It Up."

Vocalist/guitarist Rhett Miller [ tickets ], bassist/vocalist Murry Hammond and drummer Philip Peeples formed the Old 97's in 1993, aiming to tie together the music of Elvis Costello, Hank Williams, X, The Clash, Johnny Cash, David Bowie and Camper Van Beethoven, lead guitarist Ken Bethea said in the band's bio.

After building a grassroots fanbase through relentless touring, the band signed to Elektra Records in 1997 and released three albums, the final one being 2001's "Satellite Rides," which was more polished and pop-friendly than the group's previous offerings. The guys then took a lengthy hiatus to spend time with their families, and Miller recorded his solo debut, "The Instigator," in 2002. Miller's second solo album, "The Believer," hit stores early last year.