Steve Earle [ tickets ] has added new shows to his forthcoming headlining tour, which supports his latest studio set, "Townes," a collection of songs composed by the late Townes Van Zandt.

Among the veteran alt-country figure's new dates are a number of June additions in Texas, along with shows in Chicago and St. Louis. The trek, which kicks off tonight (5/28) in Portsmouth, NH, moves into Canada in July, with dates in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa on the calendar. Details are included below.

Earle's new album, "Townes," which hit stores May 12 on New West Records, pays tribute to the singer/songwriter's late friend and mentor, Townes Van Zandt. The set, which features Earle covering 15 Van Zandt originals, includes guest appearances from Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Earle's wife, Allison Moorer.

"This may be one of the best records I've ever made," Earle said in a press statement. "That hurts a singer/songwriter's feelings. Then again, it's some consolation that I cherry picked through the career of one of the best songwriters that ever lived."

The set debuted at No. 19 on The Billboard 200, which was the highest debut of Earle's career on Billboard's main chart. Additionally, the album scored a No. 6 debut on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.

Earle's previous studio effort, "Washington Square Serenade," surfaced in 2007. That album, produced by John King of the Dust Brothers (Beck, Beastie Boys), was Earle's first full-length release since relocating to New York from Nashville, where he had based his career since 1975.