Widespread Panic [ tickets ] plans to drop off the radar during 2004, but the jam band hopes to pacify fans with a still-expanding round of fall U.S. tour dates.

The group, which just wrapped up a summer outing, returns to the road in late September for a run that ends with a two-night stand at New York City's Madison Square Garden on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

After that, fans likely won't see the band for a while. A July announcement posted at its official website reveals that the group "is covering a lot of ground this year as they will be taking 2004 off for a much-needed year or so of rest."

The outing supports "Ball," an album that hit stores in April. The set is Widespread Panic's first release since the death of co-founding guitarist Michael Houser, who last August succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 40. Houser played his last concert with the band on July 2, 2002.

Despite its modest record sales, Widepsread Panic is a popular draw on the concert circuit, particularly in the Southeast; the band performed in front of more than 300,000 fans in 2002, and ranked at No. 52 on Pollstar's year-end list of the top-grossing tours.

Earlier this year, Widespread Panic released a new two-DVD set titled "Live from the Backyard in Austin, TX," which was recorded during the group's three-day run at the venue last July. The first disc includes more than two hours of live-performance footage. The second features "a 90-minute smorgasbord of band interviews and behind the scenes footage," according to the band's website.

On Aug. 31, cable-television channel A&E will rebroadcast an episode of its "Breakfast with the Arts" series that features show-host Elliott Forrest interviewing Widespread Panic members John Bell and David Schools. A video clip of the show is posted at A&E's website.