Do-it-yourself maven Ani DiFranco [ tickets ], who takes a swing through the U.S. next month before heading to Europe, will return to the states for a stretch of summer shows.

DiFranco is scheduled to launch the warm-weather run in mid-July, and dates so far run through the end of that month. The summer shows follow a spring leg that kicks off in mid-April and warps up on May 1. The itinerary is included below.

Hamel on Trial, an act signed to DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records label, is slated to open the spring shows. A support act for the summer dates hasn't been announced.

DiFranco is working the road behind her January release, "Knuckle Down," her follow-up to 2004's Grammy-nominated "Educated Guess." The new set marks the first time that DiFranco shared production duties during the recording process; guitarist/songwriter Joe Henry co-produced.

Samples of several cuts from "Knuckle Down" are streaming at Righteous Babe's

TOUR DATES

April 2005
18 - Toronto, Ontario - Hummingbird Centre
19 - Binghamton, NY - Forum Theatre
21 - Wilmington, NC - Thalian Hall
22 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Performing Arts Center
23 - Greensboro, NC - Carolina Theatre
25, 26 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
27 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre
29 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
30 - South Hadley, MA - Chapin Theatre

May 2005
1 - Buffalo, NY - Shea's P.A.C.

July 2005
18 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens
19 - Interlochen, MI - Interlochen Center for the Arts
20 - Rochester Hills, MI - MeadowBrook Music Festival
22 - Reading, PA - Sovereign Performing Arts Center
23 - Farmingville, NY - Brookhaven Amphitheater
24 - Hillsdale, NY - Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
26 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap Filene Center
29 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
30 - Williamsport, PA - Community Arts Center
31 - Floyd, VA - Floyd Fest