Perhaps one of the most interesting musical pairings to come out of the northeast's thriving music scene in recent memory, Pete Francis of indie phenom Dispatch and rising jam-rock upstarts Barefoot Truth have announced plans to join forces for a run of tour dates in early 2009. Rather than the traditional headliner/support billing, Francis and Barefoot Truth will perform as one band – playing an assortment of tunes from their respective catalogues and bringing a new energy to their already rampant audience.

Pete Francis just completed a year of touring behind his most recent release, Iron Sea and the Cavalry, sharing stages with Rusted Root, Greyboy Allstars and Gov't Mule, while Barefoot Truth has emerged as one of the fastest growing bands on the east coast. They spent the fall touring behind their election-themed single and were asked to play the Obama campaign official pre-debate rally in New York, between sets by Bruce Hornsby and Crosby & Nash. While both acts work on new records, the concept of merging ideas and styles is one that will be both exciting to fans and the musicians themselves.

Part singer songwriter, part foot-stomping backbeat and part old-time rock and roll, the Pete Francis/Barefoot Truth collaboration is one that has been in the works for quite some time. Francis produced Barefoot Truth's 2006 release The Clubhouse Sessions with longtime Dispatch producer Jack Gauthier, and has joined the band on stage at multiple performances over the last 18 months. "These guys are like little brothers to me," says Francis, "rearranging songs and learning new ones is going to bring a fresh energy to the shows."

"We've known Pete since 2006 and have since opened for him and joined him to play a song or two on stage," says Barefoot Truth guitarist J Driscoll. "The tour this winter and spring will be something different though. We all grew up on Dispatch songs, and to have one of the members of our favorite bands actually join ours for a tour is a once in a lifetime kind of experience."

Look for Pete Francis featuring Barefoot Truth on tour this spring. Expect a new, one time only EP from the quintet in March, 2009.