Three of our favorite Delta musicians are joining forces to tour and release an album. The South Memphis String Band, a trio composed of Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), Grammy winner Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers), launches its first tour on April 23 in Dallas, Texas. The three friends, bound by Memphis and North Mississippi roots, will tour ahead of recording their debut album later this year. So far only two songs have been unveiled, both at the trio’s MySpace page.

Although they’d known each other for years, the trio’s musical spirit gelled last year when they recorded a yet-unreleased album with Luther’s father, legendary producer Jim Dickinson, called New Moon Jellyroll Freedom Rockers.

Tour dates:

April 23 – Dallas, Texas Sons of Hermann Hall
April 24 – Austin, Texas Antone’s
April 25 – Houston, Texas Continental Club
April 26 – New Orleans, Louisiana House of Blues Parish Room
April 27 – Birmingham, Alabama Work Play Theatre
April 28 – Macon, Georgia Hummingbird
April 29 – Atlanta, Georgia Eddie's Attic
April 30 – Charlotte, North Carolina Evening Muse
May 1 – Carrboro, North Carolina Carrboro Arts Center
May 2 – Richmond, Virginia Capital Ale House
May 3 – Annapolis, Maryland Rams Head On Stage
May 5 – New York, New York Joe's Pub (9:30 p.m.)
May 7 – Sellersville/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Sellersville Theatre
May 8 – Alexandria, Virginia Birchmere (supporting Dr. John)
May 9 – Memphis, Tennessee Otherlands