Rusted Root is cranking out the tribal beats once again.

After a self-imposed yearlong sabbatical following its appearance at Woodstock '99, the Pittsburgh-based jam band has returned to play a few scattered shows, and are gearing up for a collegiate tour in the fall.

Rusted Root, who scored a platinum-selling debut with its 1994 record, "When I Woke," and a hit single with "Send Me On My Way," performed at a benefit at the IC Light Amphitheater in Pittsburgh on July 29 to raise funds for the Midwife Center for Birth and Women's Health.

"It was nice to take a break from the road after having worked intensely with the band for almost 10 years," frontman Michael Glabicki commented in a statement. "We'd been looking for the right opportunity to start performing again. When they asked us to do a show in our hometown and to benefit one of our favorite organizations, we said, 'Now we're ready to get back to work.'"

As part of the benefit, Rusted Root -- whose current lineup includes Glabicki, guitarist John Buynak, bassist Patrick Norman, drummer Jim Donovan, percussionist Jim DiSpirito, and singer Liz Berlin -- invited one of its original members, Jenn Wertz, to return to the fold.

Wertz left the group after contributing to its 1996 LP, "Cruel Sun," to pursue her own solo career.

Following the sold-out benefit, Rusted Root opened a pair of shows for the Allman Brothers Band in Darien Center, New York, and Scranton, Pennsylvania, on August 5 and 6.

Publicists for the band indicated that in addition to a college tour, Rusted Root is also planning to return to the studio to cut its first album since its 1998 self-titled record.

• Rusted Root