Pop-rocker Howie Day [ tickets ] and bluegrass trio Nickel Creek [ tickets ]--a somewhat-odd musical pairing--launch a co-headlining run this month.

The trek--which focuses primarily on the Eastern U.S. and is booked into a mix of universities, theaters and clubs--launches on Oct. 7 in Greenville, SC, and is slated to wrap up in early November. Details are shown in the itinerary below.

Day, a 22-year-old native of Maine who got his start on the Boston coffeehouse circuit, continues to tour behind last October's "Stop All the World Now." The set follows Day's 2000 debut, "Australia," a self-financed album that he released independently before signing with Epic. The label subsequently reissued the album, and Day scored wins in the Debut Album of the Year and Outstanding Male Vocalist categories at the 2003 Boston Music Awards.

Earlier this year, Day won the 2004 Boston Music Award for best male vocalist.

Streaming samples from the "Stop All the World Now" are posted at Day's official website.

Nickel Creek, meanwhile, is still backing its 2002 sophomore release, "This Side," which won the 2003 Grammy award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Group member Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals) releases a solo set titled "Deceiver" on Oct. 12, according to Nickel Creek's website.