BraveWords.com has received the following press release:

Kicking off what is sure to become the annual rock event each summer - SHINEDOWN announced this morning that they will headline the inaugural year of the Carnival Of Madness Tour. Everybody needs a little madness in their life, so this summer the boys in Shinedown will be bringing several of their friends along with them...

Joining them on the road for 27 dates this summer in North America will be a who’s-who of rock bands with CHEVELLE, PUDDLE OF MUDD, SEVENDUST, and 10 YEARS.

"I am beyond excited for this tour, the production is incredible, the line up is amazing, and the energy of having all five bands on one stage is going to be like nothing else this summer,” exclaimed Brent Smith. “Get ready for the carnival of madness!"

The Carnival Of Madness Tour will kick off in Jacksonville, FL on July 16th and conclude in Sacramento, CA on September 1st. Tickets for most cities will go on sale this coming Friday morning April 30th. Log on to CarnivalOfMadness.com for details. Monster Energy Drink will be the primary sponsor of the tour.

Carnival Of Madness 2010 Tour Dates

July

16 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Arena
17 - Simpsonville, SC - Heritage Park
18 - Huntsville, AL - Von Braun Amphitheatre
21 - Estero, FL - Germain Arena
23 - Knoxville, TN - Civic Coliseum
24 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Amphitheatre
25 - Raleigh, NC - Raleigh Boutique Amphitheatre
26 - Virginia Beach, VA - Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
28 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Pavillion
30 - Philadelphia, PA - Penn’s Landing

August

1 - Boston, MA - Comcast Amphitheatre
4 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
5 - Holmdel, NJ PNC - Amphitheatre
6 - Canadaguiga, NY - CBMS Performing Arts Center
7 - Detroit, MI - DTE Amphitheatre
9 - Cleveland, OH - Time Warner Amphitheatre
10 - Pikeville, KY - Eastern Kentucky Expo
11 - Chicago, IL - Charter One Pavillion
18 - Lafayette, LA - Cajun Dome
22 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater
24 - Casper, WY - Casper Event Center
25 - Billings, MT - Metropark Center

**Four other cities to be announced shortly**

To read BraveWords.com scribe Aaron Small's recent interview with Shinedown vocalist Brent Smith, click here.