Taking a page from the Elton John-Billy Joel playbook, piano-playing singer-songwriters Tori Amos [ tickets ] and Ben Folds [ tickets ] join forces this summer for a summer outing dubbed "Lottapianos."

Headliner Amos--who has been touring relentlessly since the late-2000 release of her new album, "Scarlet's Walk"--recently wrapped up two months of North American dates. Her current backing band includes longtime collaborators Jon Evans on bass and Matt Chamberlain on drums.

Amos left her longtime label Atlantic Records last year, when the company shed a long list of well-known acts from its roster. She quickly signed on with Epic and "Scarlet's Walk" hit stores in late October.

Amos self-produced the album, and recorded it in the same Cornwall, England studio where she recorded several of her previous albums.

Special guest Ben Folds, who recently released the album "Ben Folds Live," will play an hour-long set on each date, according to his official website.

Released last October, Folds' live album was recorded during his inaugural solo tour, which ran from February through July of last year. The set's 17 tracks were culled from a number of different stops on the run.

Folds, the former leader of the pop group Ben Folds Five, released his debut solo effort, "Rockin' the Suburbs," in the fall of 2001. His now-defunct eponymous group released five albums before breaking up in the fall of 2000.

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