Singer/songwriter Steve Earle [ tickets ] has extended his summer tour schedule with new headlining dates in August as he continues to support his recent studio release, "Townes."

The singer, who resumes his current outing tonight (7/17) in South Park, PA, will travel through the mountainous reaches of the Western US in August, beginning with an Aug. 8 appearance in Sheridan, WY, and continuing through an Aug. 20 show in Santa Fe, NM. Earle also has a pair of California dates planned this fall, including an Oct. 3 slot at San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. Details are included below.

Earle's latest album, "Townes," which hit stores 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 appearances 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."

The set debuted at No. 19 on The Billboard 200, which was the highest debut of Earle's career on Billboard's main chart. Additionally, the album scored a No. 6 debut on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.

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.