Freak-folk singer/songwriter Devendra Banhart [ tickets ] will play a few dates in the Northeast and upper Midwest this fall after releasing his latest studio effort.

The eight-city outing gets underway Nov. 16 in Chicago, and includes stops in Boston (11/20), New York City (11/22) and Toronto (11/27). Dates are shown below.

The performer's backing band for the shows will include guitarists Rodrigo Amarante and Noah Georgeson of Little Joy, Priestbird drummer Greg Rogove and bassist Luckey Remington of The Pleased, all of whom also appear on Banhart's forthcoming new album, "What Will We Be."

Due in stores Oct. 27, "What Will We Be" is Banhart's first release for Warner Bros. after issuing his previous two studio albums on the XL label. Produced by Paul Butler of A Band of Bees, the new effort follows 2007's "Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon," which featured guest appearances by Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes and Nick Valensi of The Strokes, among others.

Banhart teamed up with rapper GZA of Wu-Tang Clan to work on a remix of "Baby," the first single from "What Will We Be." The two met after GZA attended Banhart's performance earlier this year at Southern California's Coachella Festival, according to Paste Magazine.

"I played Coachella, and, lo and behold, I looked on the sidelines and there was GZA. I was stunned," Banhart said. "So we hung out and talked--we talked about atomic energy and how the sun is powered. We talked about dark matter. Then I sent him my catalog. And he said 'Hey man, will you write some stuff? Let's write together.'"