Steve Miller Lets His Hair Down

Let Your Hair Down is scheduled for an April 19 release on Miller’s Space Cowboy Records in partnership with Roadrunner/Loud & Proud. The album features the last recordings by harmonica master Norton Buffalo, who played with Miller for 33 years. Buffalo passed away from cancer in October 2009.

But Miller won’t be the only bluesman with a new album when his tour launches in April. Joining the “Gangster Of Love” as his special guest is Gregg Allman, whose 2010 T Bone Burnett-produced album, Low Country Blues, not only received rave reviews, but shot to the top of Amazon’s charts right out of the box.

Miller’s very next appearance is set for Feb. 12 when he joins jazz guitarists Jim Hall, Bucky Pizzarelli and Howard Alden at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum Of Art for the opening of “Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsmen From Italy To New York.” The exhibit also features three custom-made archtop guitars by luthier James D’ Aquisto and hailing from Miller’s personal collection.

Before Miller and Allman embark on their spring journey, the Steve Miller Band will help out with the Feb. 24 grand opening of the state-of-the-art Moody Theater, the new home of the long-running PBS music series “Austin City Limits.” Miller returns to the Moody two days later to tape the first show of the show’s upcoming season, performing a free concert while the streets outside the venue are blocked off to keep the party vibe alive.

SMB has a couple of dates before touring with special guest Allman – April 16 at The Allman Brothers’ Wanee Music Festival in Live Oak, Fla., and April 17 in Knoxville at the Tennessee Theatre.

Allman joins the tour April 19 in South Carolina at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Other stops include Cary N.C., at the Kola Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park; April 22 in Columbus, Ohio, at Lifestyle Communities Pavilion; April 23 at Toledo’s Huntington Center; April 26 in Upper Darby, Penn. (Philadelphia) at the Tower Theatre and April 27 in Indiana, Penn., at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

Steve Miller Band also has a gig scheduled for Bethlehem, Penn., at The ArtsQuest Center, but Allman is not on the bill.

Word is more dates will be announced. For everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the SMB universe, check out SteveMillerBand.com.