Steve Earle [ tickets ] has mapped a late-spring headlining tour that carries over into summer as he begins to back his latest project, a musical tribute to songsmith Townes Van Zandt [ tickets ].

The country/rock troubadour kicks off the outing May 28 in Portsmouth, NH, and will stay on the road through the middle of June, with additional dates scattered through the remaining months of summer. The bulk of the upcoming tour consists of 14 shows in the Eastern and Southern US. Details are included below.

Earle will be touring in support of a new album. "Townes," due May 12 on New West Records, pays tribute to the singer/songwriter's late friend and mentor, Townes Van Zandt. The set, which features Earle covering 15 Van Zandt originals, includes guest appearance from Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Earle's wife, Allison Moorer.

"This may be one of the best records I've ever made," Earle said in a press statement. "That hurts a singer/songwriter's feelings. Then again, it's some consolation that I cherry picked through the career of one of the best songwriters that ever lived."

A four-song EP--containing the album's tracks "Pancho and Lefty," "Lungs," "Brand New Companion" and "To Live Is to Fly"--was released last month and is currently available through iTunes.

Earle's previous studio effort, "Washington Square Serenade," surfaced in 2007. That album, produced by John King of the Dust Brothers (Beck, Beastie Boys), was Earle's first full-length release since relocating to New York from Nashville, where he had based his career since 1975.