Pete Yorn Readies Trilogy-Ending Album And Tour

American singer/songwriter Pete Yorn is nearing completion of his third full-length album and is making plans for an intimate U.S. tour this summer.

The new record, Nightcrawler, will hit stores on Aug. 15 via Columbia. Yorn has described the album as the final act in a trilogy that began with his 2001 debut, Musicforthemorningafter, and continued with 2003's Day I Forgot.

"When you hear it, you'll understand," he told MTV News. "This could be the last one.

"I could be three records and out in this form. I might start a band and see where that takes me.

Nightcrawler will be a star-studded affair, with appearances from the Dixie Chicks, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, "Farmer" Dave Scher from Beachwood Sparks and veteran keyboardist Leon Russell. It will be produced by industry vets Michael Beinhorn, Butch Walker and Don Fleming.

Yorn will embark on a solo tour of the U.S. (his first since 2000) this summer in support of the album. The venues will be intimate and the shows spontaneous, as Yorn plans to perform without a set list.

"My favourite thing has always been the super-sweaty nights in the small clubs where everybody's right next to you," he said. "That's the most inspiring thing for me and where I'm happy."

Though the shows are planned as solo gigs, Yorn has hinted that some friends might occasionally show up to join him on stage.

As a special bonus for attendees, Yorn will have a new six-song EP titled Western available for purchase at the tour stops. The mini-album will lean more towards a twangy gospel sound.

Yorn says on his MySpace site that he's also planning a band-backed, fully plugged-in tour for the fall after Nightcrawler's release. No Canadian dates have been scheduled yet.