The new round of dates kick off September 18 at Auburn University in Alabama and run through the first week of October. Highlights include stops at Bank of America Pavilion in Boston (September 21), Tweeter Center at The Waterfront near Philadelphia (September 23), The Sugarmill in New Orleans (September 28), Nokia Theatre at Grand Prarie near Dallas (October 3), and the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver (October 7).

Additional Collective Soul dates are expected.

Collective Soul will release a seventh studio album, Afterwords, on their own imprint exclusively through Target August 28.

Collective Soul vocalist and songwriter Ed Roland explained the band’s decision to go indie and release their own album was motivated by the changing face of the industry.

“As a band, we released five albums and were with a major label for seven years,” Roland said. “Traditionally, that had been the ultimate dream and only outlet for an artist and songwriter to present their music. The music business is different now.”

Roland also said the band considers the music on the new disc, which focuses on themes of love and positive feelings, some of their strongest work yet.

“We’re still a guitar oriented band, but we’re more confident than ever in the music we’re making and the reason we’re making it.”