The National Will Find You

The National unveiled a short run of North American dates today along with an announcement about a cover contest. The act is inviting fans to record their own version of “I Need My Girl,” a tune from its latest album, Trouble Will Find Me.

Marking its sixth studio LP, Trouble Will Find Me was released in May.

U.S. fans age 13 and up have until Feb. 14 at 12 p.m. GMT to send in a video with their cover. The band will post the ones it likes on its website and on Feb. 14 it will award its favorite performer with a $500 American Express gift card.

Photo: John Davisson
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Calif.

The indie rockers will play a special show March 25 at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium to coincide with the U.S. theatrical premiere of the documentary “Mistaken For Strangers.”

The film came to be after frontman Matt Berninger asked his brother Tom to join the band’s 2010 tour as a roadie. Tom, who was eventually fired from the trek, brought along his camera to film the adventure. The website for the documentary writes, “The film Tom finally produces is a hilarious and touching look at two very different brothers, and an odd but strangely moving portrait of a popular, nuanced band.”

The New York Observer raves, “The film managed to defy every preconception … The best documentary we’ve seen all year.”

Here’s the plan for the new North American dates:

April 9 – Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall
April 10 – Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall
April 11 – Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall
April 12 – Grand Rapids, Mich., Van Nord Arena
April 15 – Chicago, Ill., Chicago Theatre
April 16 – Chicago, Ill., Chicago Theatre
April 21 – Austin, Texas, The Moody Theater at Austin City Limits Live
April 22 – Austin, Texas, The Moody Theater at Austin City Limits Live
April 26 – Berkeley, Calif., Greek  Theatre
May 9 – Atlanta, Ga., Atlantic Station Park (Shaky Knees Festival)

Daughter supports April 9-11 and April 15-16, Warpaint joins the tour April 21-22, and Portugal. The Man will be there April 26.

Tickets for Shaky Knees Festival are available now. A presale for select dates begins Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 12 p.m. local time. Additional presales begin Thursday, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. local time. General onsales launch Friday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. local time.

For more information click here for The National’s website and here for the official rules for the “I Need My Girl” video contest.