Flogging Molly maps out Green 17 trek

Flogging Molly will get St. Patrick's Day festivities started about six weeks early with its fourth annual Green 17 tour.

The band, which melds traditional Irish music with punk rock, will launch the party Feb. 1 in Austin, TX, and play across the US and into Canada, with a St. Patrick's Day finale planned in Mesa, AZ. The outing includes two-night stands in Cleveland, Chicago, New York City and Las Vegas.

Flogging Molly will wrap its current tour of the West on Tuesday (12/11) when it plays the annual Rock to Roll charity event in Hollywood, CA. The band's full itinerary is listed below.

The tour dates will give Flogging Molly a chance to share music from its forthcoming album, "Float," which is due March 4. The band's founder, Dublin-born singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave King, has been working on the new set with co-producer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alkaline Trio).

Flogging Molly's most recent studio album, 2004's "Within a Mile of Home," shot to No. 1 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. That was followed by last year's CD/DVD documentary, "Whiskey on a Sunday," which was recently certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. That set, shot in seven countries over two years, captures the band's explosive live performance and includes footage from the road.

Without commercial radio or video play, Flogging Molly has managed to build a cult-like following through relentless touring. The group has sold out shows all over the world and has sold more than a million albums in the US, according to a press release.