Virtuoso guitarist and visionary composer STEVE VAI will release The Story Of Light, a new solo album of original material, on August 14th. A brand new song from The Story of Light is streaming at RollingStone.com today. The track is 'John The Revelator', a 1930's gospel-blues classic- and it has been forever changed and layered with heavy rock Vai-mojo.

The Story Of Light comes out on Favored Nations Entertainment, the label Vai founded in 1999. The sprawling and expressive 12-song set continues a conceptual and cosmic narrative arc that began with the artist's most recent studio release, 2005's acclaimed Real Illusions: Reflections.

Although The Story of Light is largely instrumental, the album does feature guest vocalists including singer-songwriter Aimee Mann - dueting with Vai on 'No More Amsterdam', which she also co-wrote. Beverly McClellan, a season one finalist on The Voice, appears on 'John The Revelator', a track inspired by a vintage recording of blues singer Blind Willie Johnson, whose acid-soaked vocals are in the mix as well. Other highlights include the title track (which opens the album), 'Gravity Storm', 'The Moon And I', and 'Velorum'.

Throughout, three-time Grammy-winner Vai's lead guitar is as lyrically resonant as it is technically masterful, his licks and solos bending sounds and in listeners' minds in equal measure. The Story Of Light follows the journey of a man driven mad by grief, intertwining tragedy, revelation, enlightenment, and redemption.

"I'm always pursuing knowledge, I'm a seeker of spiritual equilibrium-and music is a big part of that," says Vai. "I've been obsessed with these kinds of ideas for years." Looking ahead, Vai envisions a third set of songs that will unravel the mysteries and reveal truths that swirl through both The Story of Light and Real Illusions: Reflections. The completed trilogy, intended to be cinematic-even operatic-in scope, will include lyrics and narration.

The Story of Light is available for online pre-sale orders. This special pre-sale selection of bundled packages is offered exclusively through Vai's website, Vai.com, where complete details on the products and ordering information are available. Each package includes an instant download of a track from the new album personally selected by Vai, 'Gravity Storm'.

The Story of Light is Vai's 16th solo effort, and the follow up to 2009's live effort, Where The Wild Things Are. In support of its release, Vai will begin a tour of North America on August 15th in Fort Lauderdale Florida, accompanied by his band-who are also featured on the new album: Dave Weiner (guitar), Jeremy Colson (drums), Philip Bynoe (bass), and Deborah Hensen (harp, vocals, keyboards).

Vai has has revealed the routing for his North American tour in support of The Story Of Light. Confirmed dates include:

August

15 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
16 - St. Petersburg, FL - Palladium Theater
17 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues
18 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
20 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
21 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Musicworks
22 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
23 - Atlanta, GA - Centerstage
24 - N. Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
25 - Durham, NC - Carolina Theatre
26 - Richmond, VA - The National
28 - Washington DC - The Howard Theatre
29 - Stroudsberg, PA - Sherman Theatre
30 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
31 - Westbury, NY - Theatre at Westbury

September

2 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
4 - Ridgefield, CT - The Ridgefield Playhouse
5 - Wilmington, DE - The Grand Opera House
6 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theatre
7 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theater
8 - Morristown, NJ - Mayo Performing Arts Center
9 - Albany, NY - The Egg
11 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater
13 - Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre
14 - Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre
15 - Concord, NH - Capitol Center
16 - Lebanon, NH - Lebanon Opera House
17 - Quebec, QC - Capitole Du Quebec
18 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
20 - Toronto, ON - Sony Centre
21 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Hall
22 - Buffalo, NY - University of Buffalo Center for the Arts
24 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
26 - Minneapolis, MN - The Brick
27 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
28 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
29 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
30 - Salina, KS - The Stiefel

October

1 - Denver, CO - The Ogden Theatre
3 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
4 - Seattle, WA - The Moore Theatre
5 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
6 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
7 - Napa, CA - Uptown Theatre
9 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
10 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
11 - Anaheim, CA - City National Grove of Anaheim
12 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
13 - Agoura Hills, CA - Canyon Club