Chicago-based instrumental rockers Tortoise have announced the dates for their spring

North American tour, a trek that will see them playing their unique blend of jazz,

dub and rock in college towns and big cities from coast to coast. This will be the

sextet's first tour since the March 10 release of its critically acclaimed third

album, TNT.

The lineup for the tour will include multi-instrumentalist Jeff Parker of the

Chicago Underground Orchestra and the New Horizons Ensemble, bassists

Douglas McCombs and Dave Pajo, drummer/vibes player John Herndon and

drummers/keyboardists Dan Bitney and John McEntire. To achieve the multi-

layered, multi-genre sound found on such TNT tracks as "Ten-Day

Interval" and

HREF="http://www.addict.com/music/Tortoise/The_Suspension_Bridge_At_Igua

nzu_Falls.ram">"The Suspension Bridge At Iguanzu Falls" (Real Audio

excerpt), the band will be stuffing the U-Haul with two drum kits, a vibraphone,

a marimba, a farfisa, four- and six-string basses, guitars, a lap-steel guitar and

analog synthesizers.

As a direct contrast to the Tortoise sound, minimalist music-maker Markus

"Oval" Popp will be opening up for the first half of the tour on his first concert trip

through the U.S. Popp will be using a computer to make different songs every

night, with his screen projected behind him so the audience can watch him

manipulate sound with customized software programs.

The opening act on the second half of the tour will be Isotope 217, a side project

from Parker that melds jazz and funk.

Tortoise Tour Dates, With Oval:

Apr. 30; Bloomington, Ill., Second Story

May 1; Detroit, Mich., St. Andrews

May 2; Toronto, Ont., Lee's Palace

May 3; Toronto, Ont., Lee's Palace

May 4; Montreal, Que., Cabaret Music Hall

May 5; Providence, R.I., Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel

May 6; Cambridge, Mass., Middle East

May 7; New York, N.Y., Tramp's

May 8; Annendale, N.Y., Bard College

May 9; Philadelphia, Pa., Theatre of Living Arts

May 10; Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club

May 11; Carrboro, N.C., Cat's Cradle

May 12; Atlanta, Ga., Cotton Club

May 13; Athens, Ga., 40 Watt Club

May 14; Orlando, Fla., Sapphire Supper Club

May 15; Tallahassee, Fla., Cowhaus

May 16; New Orleans, La., Howlin' Wolf

May 17; Houston, Texas, Fitzgerald's

May 18; Austin, Texas, Electric Lounge

May 19; Dallas, Texas, Trees

May 20; Memphis, Tenn., New Daisy Theatre

May 21; Louisville, Ky., Toy Tiger

May 22; Newport, Ky., Southgate House Ballroom

Tortoise Tour Dates, With Isotope 217:

May 26; St. Louis, Mo., Galaxy Room

May 27; Lawrence, Kan., Granada Theater

May 28; Denver, Colo., Ogden Theater

May 30; Salt Lake City, Utah, University Theater

Jun. 1; San Diego, Calif., To Be Announced

Jun. 2; Los Angeles, Calif., The Roxy

Jun. 3; Los Angeles, Calif., The Roxy

Jun. 4; San Francisco, Calif., Great American Music Hall

Jun. 5; San Francisco, Calif., Great American Music Hall

Jun. 6; Portland, Ore., Zoot Suite

Jun. 7; Vancouver, B.C., To Be Announced

Jun. 8; Seattle, Wash., Showbox Theater

Jun. 12; Minneapolis, Minn., First Avenue

Jun. 13; Chicago, Ill., The Metro

Jun. 14; Chicago, Ill., The Metro