The alt rock band 311 has announced 2009 dates for their annual Unity Tour. Support from Ziggy Marley, special guest, will also be featured.

The Unity Tour will visit 25 cities, kicking off in Santa Barbara, CA on June 5 and run through August, wrapping up back on the coast of California with shows in San Diego on August 11 and in Irvine, CA on August 12.

The band’s summer dates will follow the forthcoming spring headlining run kicking off in Tucson, AZ on April 15 and traveling for a month through the Midwest and South. The 19 city trek will wrap up in Springfield, MO on May 15.

On “Uplifter,” the band’s ninth studio album, 311 worked with Bob Rock, veteran producer of hard rock who has also worked with Motley Crue and Metallica. It’s the band’s first studio album since the release of “Don’t Tread on Me” released in 2005. “Uplifter” is due out on June 2.

Nick Hexum, the band’s guitarist and lead singer said, he brings the best out in 311. He doesn’t try putting signature sounds on what he does. He tries just accentuating a band’s strengths.

Despite the musical pedigree of Rock, according to Hexum on the upcoming set fans will get more straight rock and roll.

Hexum said, we were getting a lot more into reggae. Now we are ready I think to have a heavier sound. It is definitely a blend. There will be reggae and hip-hop. I would characterize lots of the new stuff as heavy but up-tempo.