The packed itinerary is basically business as usual for this hardworking assortment of indie hip-hoppers. After a solo winter tour of Europe, Francis went out on a U.S. jaunt earlier this year with Gruvis Malt opening and serving as his backing band.

Sole and Themselves also did individual tours of Europe in late 2002. While in England, Themselves stopped by for a session on John Peel’s famed BBC radio show.

Anticon began in the late ‘90s when Maine native Sole gathered some friends who shared his affinity for uncompromising, avant-garde hip-hop. He soon convinced the entire gang to relocate to California’s East Bay.

Two of those friends were Dose One and Jel, who originally released an album in 2000 as Them before being forced to alter their name, which bore a bit too much resemblance to that of Van Morrison’s original band. Now known as Themselves, their album The No Music made many a top ten list last year.

Sage Francis, for his part, made news last month as the first hip-hop act to be signed to venerable punk label Epitaph Records. Francis is no stranger to the Anticon crowd, having released his official solo debut, Personal Journals, on the Anticon record label in 2002.

Not to be outdone in the recent-release department, Sole’s Selling Live Water hit stores in January.

Although no dates have been confirmed, rumor has it that Sage Francis and Themselves will be embarking on extensive North American tours this fall.