The band will make a handful of appearances at several Six Flags Amusement Parks and a few state fairs, as well as one House of Blues show in July and early August to warm up for the tour.The band will launch the tour August 20, the day before the release of their album, at the House of Blues in Chicago.

Other stops on Cartel’s schedule include Rocketown in Nashville (August 25), the new House of Blues in Dallas (August 28), Avalon in Los Angeles (September 6-7), Showbox in Seattle (September 12), First Avenue in Minneapolis (September 18), Clutch Cargo’s in Pontiac, Mich. (September 21), Mr. Small’s Theatre in Pittsburgh (September 25), The Fillmore N.Y at Irving Plaza in New York (October 2), and The Norva in Norfolk, Va. (October 9).

This spring, the media and fans alike buzzed about Cartel when the band sealed themselves inside a huge transparent bubble on Pier 54, where they holed up while working on the follow-up to their debut, 2005’s Chroma.

Twenty-three live web cams streamed the quintet’s every move, offering fans an unprecedented real-time look into the ups and downs of the creative process.

The new album was recorded with production by Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, the same team behind Chroma.

Fans were treated to views of everything from the band members’ waking moments and creative differences, to jam sessions and appearances by special guests, including Wyclef Jean.

During the course of the recording process, the band also enlisted The Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem Alumni Ensemble to sing on a few tracks and auditioned various New York City street musicians to perform on the record.