The new shows kicked off August 22 at House of Blues in Chicago and wrap up with a pair of shows December 28-29 at The Orange Peel in Asheville, N.C.

Other stops on the nearly 50 city trek include Belly Up Aspen in Colorado (August 27), the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle (September 1), the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, Va. (September 7), Rhythm & Roots Reunion in Bristol, Tenn. (September 14), the War Eagle Supper Club in Auburn, Ala. (September 26), Toad’s Place in New Haven, Conn. (October 3), the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville (October 11), the Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival in California (October 21), La Zona Rosa in Austin (November 4), Common Grounds in Gainesville, Fla. (November 11), and Webster Hall in New York City (November 17).

The Avett Brothers got their start as a previous band was winding down. Siblings Scott and Seth Avett played in a rock outfit called Nemo, but found themselves gravitating toward a more folk/country-oriented sound – though still infused with a passionate punk-rock energy.

As Nemo ground to a halt, the brothers packed up Scott’s banjo and Seth’s acoustic guitar for a self-booked summer tour across the country.

When the brothers rolled through Charlotte, N.C., they met New Jersey native Bob Crawford, who soon became the band’s bassist.

The Avett Brothers released their first album as a band, Country Was, in 2002, followed by A Carolina Jubilee in 2003, Mignonette in 2004 and Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions and The Gleam in 2006. The hard touring trio has also released a couple of live albums and an EP along the way.

The band’s latest disc, Emotionalism, hit the streets in May.