Megadeth [ tickets ] and Dream Theater [ tickets ] will lead this summer's Gigantour, a six-week festival outing that will also feature main-stage performers Fear Factory [ tickets ], Dillinger Escape Plan and Nevermore [ tickets ].

The tour's itinerary is being finalized, with a late-July launch expected. Stops at amphitheaters in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, Denver and Minneapolis are planned, among others, according to a press release.

Megadeth founder/frontman Dave Mustaine handpicked the bands that will appear on Gigantour.

"I think that the variety of playing styles and the credibility of the different players is really exciting," Mustaine said in a statement. "I�m looking forward to spending time with Dream Theater--including my friend Mike Portnoy--while on the road. I think Dream Theater is unbelievably talented. I can�t wait to see what their set list is going to be for this festival.�

Dream Theater's Portnoy, in a statement, said that he views the outing as "kind of a meeting of musicians and metal-heads. I�ve been listening to Megadeth since day one and always admired them and Dave as an artist--he�s constantly stuck to his guns and stuck by the music he believes in."

Megadeth's touring lineup will be the same as it was on 2004's "Blackmail the Universe" tour, with Glen Drover (guitar), James MacDonough (bass) and Shawn Drover (drums) backing Mustaine.

The festival will also feature a second stage, the lineup for which hasn't been announced.

"I look forward to watching this develop over the years and seeing how we can turn this into something that�s going to stand the test of time," Mustaine said. "And if this works, and it really works, maybe we�ll take it elsewhere."