The Rolling Stones [ tickets ], who earlier this month wrapped up their 2005 North American tour, return to the road next month for a new round of shows that will feature a widely varied group of opening acts.

Opening duties will be divvied up between a mix of veteran artists, newcomers and lesser-knowns from multiple genres. A trio of Canadian acts gets things started, with French-speaking female artist Anik Jean [ tickets ] opening the Stones' 2006 tour kick-off in Montreal, rock quartet Sloan [ tickets ] taking over for Boston shows on Jan 13-15, and Metric [ tickets ], also a rock quartet, filling the slot at New York City's Madison Square Garden on Jan. 18 and Jan. 20.

Female rock quintet Antigone Rising [ tickets ] takes over Jan. 23 and 25 in Chicago and Feb. 1 in Baltimore, followed by groove-jazz outfit Soulive Jan. 27 in St. Louis, and country duo Brooks & Dunn Jan. 29 in Omaha, NE.

High-profile rockers Queens of the Stone Age enter the fray March 4 in Las Vegas and March 6 in Los Angeles, then yield to country legend Merle Haggard, who does the honors March 9 in Little Rock, AR. New Orleans-based funk veterans The Meters will prime the crowd at the March 12 show in Ft. Lauderdale, which currently caps the Stones' confirmed North American dates. Details are included below.

The Stones are touring behind their latest album, this year's "A Bigger Bang." "Rarities: 1971-2003"--a set that consists of 16 remixes, rare b-sides and hard-to-find live recordings--surfaced last month, and is available at traditional retailers as well as Starbucks outlets.