Promising surprise guests as well as performances by local musicians, the six-time Grammy-winning band returns to the concert trail Feb. 17 with a show at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, N.Y.

Other destinations include York, Pa., when the band plays a Feb. 20 gig at the Capitol Performing Arts Center; Seattle at Symphony Hall Feb. 22; Dallas at the Winspear Opera House Feb. 26; Chicago at Orchestra Hall March 4; Atlanta at Woodruff Arts Center March 11 and Newark at NJPAC Prudential Hall March 16.

Of course, the most excellent day of the year to see The Chieftains is St. Patrick’s Day. In 2011, March 17 has the band playing Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall.

The Chieftains are touring in support of their latest album, San Patricio, which the group recorded with Ry Cooder.

In 2011, The Chieftains’ performances could be better described as a ‘Big Show’ or a ‘Spectacular’ rather than a concert,” frontman Paddy Maloney said. “There will be upwards of 12 people on stage at all times, with additions of local musicians, special guests I’m not allowed to divulge, anywhere from 6 to 20 local dancers on a couple of pieces, and the Scottish pipe bands performing the ‘March to Battle,’ which was narrated by Liam Neeson for San Patricio.”