Singer/songwriter John Prine [ tickets ] has expanded his tour itinerary to include scattered US dates through the spring.

The veteran country/folk performer will pick things up again Feb. 8 in Chicago and play a few shows each month around the eastern half of the country into May. Gigs include a performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Iris Dement, Maura O'Connell, Kane Welch Kaplin and Peter Case will take turns filling the opening slot. Dates are listed below.

Prine is out supporting a few recent releases, the latest of which is a duet album, "Standard Songs For Average People," with bluegrass icon Mac Wiseman. The set, which surfaced last April on Prine's Oh Boy Records label, takes listeners on a trip back to simpler times with renditions of classic American songs, from "Pistol Packin' Mama" to "In the Garden."

Prine's latest full-length set of new material is 2005's "Fair & Square," which earned him a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. The record was his first new offering since 1995's "Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings," and marked his debut as producer.

In October, the musician followed that up with the "Fair & Square" EP, which comprises four unreleased tracks from the 2005 recording sessions.

Prine also dug into the archives to put out a live DVD last year. "John Prine Live on Soundstage 1980" features his way-back-when performance on the PBS-TV music program.