Neil Young's Prairie Wind CD/DVD Released September 20

Neil Young has announced an official release date for his forthcoming album.

On his website, Young says "Prairie Wind is coming in a CD/DVD September 20," then adds, "the DVD shows us recording the whole record, every note you hear, you see!"

This will be Young's first proper record since the concept album/movie/theatre spectacle that was Greendale. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, it's expected that Prairie Wind will be predominantly a country rock record, so think more Hawks & Doves/Harvest than Mirrorball/Weld.

The announcement of a record release date is heartening news for Young fans. The singer had to cancel an appearance at the 2005 Juno Awards in April because of a brain aneurysm. His first public appearance after that was a triumphant closing set at Live 8 in Barrie three weeks ago. His run-through of "Rockin' In The Free World" proved he was back physically, but a droll bit of wordplay that left CTV interviewer Tanya Kim befuddled immediately after the performance showed Young was as sharp as ever.

Young's next performance on stage will likely be September 18 in Tinley, Ill where he's set to appear at the annual Farm Aid event alongside the likes of Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Wilco.

Of most importance to Neil devotees though, the singer is once again foreshadowing that his long-rumoured box set project is on the way. In the same message as the release date announcement, Young says that after Prairie Wind comes out, "Archives Volume 1 will follow."