The tour starts with a benefit show on the band’s home turf April 21 at Scott Stadium at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and follows with April 28 and 29 shows at the Alltel Pavilion in Raleigh, N.C.

Other major markets on the itinerary include Phoenix, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Detroit, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Dallas.

The band will also make an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 5.

The April 21 launch – DMB’s first hometown appearance since 1994 – will benefit the Bama Works Foundation, the band’s charity funds disbursement organization. Tickets for that show go on sale March 3. Tickets for the rest of the dates go up for grabs March 10.

The caravan is set to lumber through 22 cities so far and a second leg is expected to be announced in mid-March.

The Dave Matthews Band has ranked no lower than fourth in ticket sales in Pollstar’s year-end analysis for the last three years, ringing up more than $156.8 million in gross receipts during that time.

DMB was the third highest-grossing act of the year in 2000 with $68.2 million, behind only Tina Turner and ‘N Sync. With a new release to promote, the group can be expected to rake in similar astronomical numbers in 2001.