Modern blues purveyors the Robert Cray [ tickets ] Band and roots-rock outfit John Hiatt [ tickets ] and the Goners team this summer for a lengthy co-headlining tour that opens in late July.

Hiatt, who recently signed to indie label New West Records, releases a new album titled "Beneath this Gruff Exterior" on May 18. The set, his 18th, is the first to be credited to "John Hiatt and the Goners," which refers to his longtime band.

Guitarist Sonny Landreth, bassist Dave Ranson and drummer Kenneth Blevins reunited with singer-guitarist Hiatt for the first time in almost a decade on Hiatt's previous album, "The Tiki Bar is Open," which hit stores in 2001.

The latest release from Cray is "The Best of Robert Cray - The Millennium Collection," which was issued last October. The album features 10 re-mastered selections from Cray albums spanning from 1986 through 1995.

Cray's latest studio album, his 12th, is 2001's "Shoulda Been Home." As is the norm for Cray's releases, it includes a mix of originals and covers.

The Robert Cray Band features singer-guitarist Cray, drummer Kevin Hayes, keyboardist Jim Pugh and bassist Karl Sevareid.