More than 20 years ago, R.E.M. began laying down the blueprint for turning indie acclaim into mainstream stardom. Now the veteran rock act is set to be joined on tour by two bands at different stages on that same path.

R.E.M.

With Accelerate, its 14th studio album, set to hit stores April 1, R.E.M. announced today a 13-date North American tour in May and June. Modest Mouse and The National, touring behind their respective 2007 albums, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank and Boxer, will serve as opening acts.

R.E.M. will also headline the Langerado Music Festival on March 8th at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in South Florida, and perform at Stubb's Bar-B-Que on March 12th during the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

Accelerate was recorded in Vancouver, Canada; Dublin, Ireland; and Athens, Georgia last spring with Grammy Award-winning producer Garrett "Jacknife" Lee, who is noted for his work with U2, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, and Kasabian.

R.E.M. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2007.

R.E.M. tour dates with Modest Mouse and The National:

5/23 - Vancouver - Deer Lake Park

5/29 - Los Angeles - Hollywood Bowl

5/31 - Berkeley - The Greek Theatre

6/3 - Denver - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

6/6 - Chicago - United Center

6/8 - Toronto - Molson Amphitheatre

6/10 - Raleigh - Walnut Creek Amphitheatre

6/11 - Washington, DC - Merriweather Post Pavilion

6/13 - Boston - Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts

6/14 - Long Island - Jones Beach Theater

6/18 - Philadelphia - Mann Center for the Performing Arts

6/19 - New York City - TBA

6/21 - Atlanta - Lakewood Amphitheatre