It should be a very happy new year for Indigo Girls [ tickets ] fans as the popular folk-rock duo has announced a batch of new shows for early 2006.

The Indigo Girls' Amy Ray and Emily Saliers will begin strumming and crooning on Jan. 19 in San Luis Obispo, CA, and then move through two other college towns in the Golden State (Chico on Jan. 21 and Arcata on Jan. 22). After pulling four more West Coast dates, including a two-night stand at the Fillmore in San Francisco Jan. 27-28, the duo moves east for three dates in New Jersey and New York. More gigs are expected to be added soon.

The current tour itinerary is listed below.

The Indigo Girls' latest release is the appropriately entitled collection "Rarities," which hit stores in June. The 18-track collection features demos, previously unreleased material, soundtrack work and contributions to tribute and benefit albums. Some of the album's highlights include the duo's take on the classic punk-track "Clampdown" (originally featured on 1999's "Burning London – The Clash Tribute"), a reinterpretation of Vic Chestnut's "Free of Hope" (recorded for 1996's "Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation") and a collaboration with R.E.M's Michael Stipe on "I'll Give You My Skin."

In other news, Ray recently finished up a 10-date October tour with her other project--Amy Ray and the Volunteers—-which saw the vocalist performing mainly in the Midwest.