Joan Baez [ tickets ] returns to the road this fall to support her first album of new material in six years, "Dark Chords on a Big Guitar."

The folk singer's North American outing visits performance halls--mostly in the Northeast--in October and November.

Scheduled for release on Sept. 9, "Dark Chords on a Big Guitar" features Baez's interpretations of songs by well-known songwriters, including Steve Earle ("Christmas in Washington"), Gillian Welch and David Rawlings ("Elvis Presley Blues"), Ryan Adams ("In My Time of Need"), Natalie Merchant ("Motherland") and Greg Brown ("Rexroth's Daughter").

Mark Spector produced the 10-track set, which was recorded in upstate New York in December of 2002. Baez's core band consisted of Byron Isaacs on electric and acoustic bass guitars; George Javori on drums and percussion; and Duke McVinnie on guitars and electric bass.

Spector is also overseeing the production of Vanguard Records' "The Joan Baez Original Master Series," which is billed as "a series of chronological reissues that celebrates Baez's Vanguard catalog."

Meanwhile, an Aug. 26 release date has been set for "Joan Baez - The Complete A&M Recordings (1972-1976)." The boxed set will include six albums, as well as previously unavailable bonus material.

Baez is scheduled to join Emmylou Harris, Earle, Chrissie Hynde and Billy Bragg for a pair of "Concerts for a Landmine Free World" benefit shows in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Leicester, England, on Aug. 9 and 10, respectively.