January 9 [14:00 EDT] -- Sugar Ray will be joined by Goldfinger and Save Ferris for a string of shows that will kick off early next month and will send the band careening across the U.S. until the spring.

The dates will come after Sugar Ray wraps up a handful of European dates later this month, presumably the same dates the band had to nix last October when frontman Mark McGrath twisted his knee, forcing Sugar Ray to cut its European tour short.

Save Ferris (the ska prodigy that won "Best Unsigned Band" honors at the annual Grammy Showcase, landed a recording deal with Epic Records, and scored a rock radio hit with their cover of "Come On Eileen" all in 1997) will warm up for the outing with a handful of West coast dates at the end of this month. The band will start in Santa Barbara, California on January 24 before moving on to other Cali destinations like Palo Alto and Carmichael and will wind up with two Oregon shows in Eugene and Portland.

You can then catch the Save Ferris, Goldfinger, Sugar Ray triple bill at the following spots:

• 2/11 - Boston, MA @ The Roxy
• 2/12 - New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
• 2/13 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 2/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 2/16 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
• 2/17 - Milwaukee, WI @ Modjeska Theater
• 2/18 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
• 2/20 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
• 2/21 - Atlanta, GA @ Roxy Theater
• 2/23 - Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
• 2/24 - Miami Beach, FL @ Cameo Theater
• 2/25 - St. Petersburg, FL @ Janus Landing
• 2/28 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
• 3/1 - Austin, TX @ Ranch Studios
• 3/3 - Tempe, AZ @ Hayden Square
• 3/6 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
• 3/7 - Hollywood, CA @ The Palladium

• Goldfinger
• Save Ferris
• Sugar Ray

August 13 [14:00 EDT] -- Is Save Ferris' first place prize in this year's Grammy Showcase for unsigned bands a fluke, or do they actually have a future?

Apparently Epic Records is betting on the latter rather than the former, as the label is set to release the band's major label debut next month.

Another product of the Orange Country, California ska scene, Save Ferris will try to prove its mettle with "This Means Everything," its Epic debut which should hit stores on September 9. The band will further showcase its skills while opening for another So Cal ska outfit, Reel Big Fish, who are launching a headlining tour on September 14.

If you want to see the act that won over the Grammy people and the folks at Epic Records, here's where you should be:

• 9/14 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
• 9/15 - Cleveland, OH @ The Odeon
• 9/17 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
• 9/18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 9/19 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
• 9/20 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 9/21 - Baltimore, MD @ Bohager's
• 9/22 - Newark, DE @ Stone Balloon
• 9/23 - Richmond, VA @ Flood Zone
• 9/29 - Austin, TX @ Liberty Lunch
• 9/30 - Houston, TX @ TBA
• 10/1 - Dallas, TX @ TBA
• 10/2 - Lubbock, TX @ TBA
• 10/16 - Los Angeles, CA @ TBA

• Save Ferris

Feb. 26 [10:00 EST] -- In New York City, a town already swarming with Grammy attendees, three unsigned bands fresh from regional competitions arrived to play last Saturday night at the second national Grammy showcase. The event, sponsored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (a.k.a. the Grammy people), was designed unearth new commercial talent.

Saliva (a five-piece from Memphis), Maggie, Pierce, and E.J. (a trio from Philadelphia), and Save Ferris (who hail from the hinterlands of Orange County, California) squared off in the final round of the competition.

While all three finalists won money, equipment, and ticket to Wednesday night's Grammy Awards, Save Ferris walked off with top honors, and some free recording time.

Remember, MTV News will be on the air live Wednesday at 7 p.m. (an hour before the Grammy gala itself on CBS) with our "Backstage At The Grammy Awards" special, and at 11 p.m. Wednesday we'll have a live Grammy wrap-up.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

• Save Ferris