Veteran Americana artist John Prine [ tickets ] has mapped out his first round of US dates for the New Year.

The critically acclaimed singer/songwriter will finish off his 2008 performances over the next week with theater engagements in New Jersey, Delaware and Oklahoma. So far, his 2009 calendar comprises a handful of February, March and April dates stretching from the Midwest to the East Coast. Details are included below.

Prine continues to support a number of recent releases, the latest of which is a duet album with bluegrass icon Mac Wiseman. "Standard Songs For Average People," which surfaced last year on Prine's Oh Boy Records label, takes listeners on a trip back to simpler times with renditions of classic American songs including "In the Garden," "Old Cape Cod," "Blue Eyed Elaine" and "Pistol Packin' Mama."

Prine's latest full-length set of new material is 2005's "Fair & Square," which earned him a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. The record was his first new offering since 1995's "Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings," and marked his debut as producer. It reached No. 2 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and recorded the fastest rise to No. 1 in the history of Americana radio, according to Prine's bio.

Late last year, the musician released four more tracks from his 2005 recording sessions on the "Fair & Square" EP, and also dug into the archives to put out the "John Prine Live on Soundstage 1980" DVD, which documents a performance on the PBS-TV music program.