Saving Abel heads back to 'Class'

Following their in-progress support run with Hinder, Mississippi alt-rockers Saving Abel will headline the inaugural "Class of" tour.

The group's summer outing alongside Hinder continues tonight (8/26) in Salt Lake City, followed by stops at 10 amphitheaters through mid-September. The "Class of 2009" tour kicks off Oct. 27 in San Antonio with plans to visit 20 clubs throughout the Midwest and parts of the East Coast. Details are shown below.

Each year, the "Class of" tour will highlight bands with substantial Top 10 hits in the current calendar year, as well as "the freshman"--an unsigned band selected from submissions, according to a press release.

During the "Class of 2009" outing, Saving Abel will share the stage with Red and Pop Evil, while Taddy Porter takes on the freshman duties of providing opening support.

"I love the idea of this tour," Saving Abel guitarist Jason Null said in a press release. "Not only do we get to tour with some of the other hit makers of 2009, but we also get a chance to help break a new artist."

Saving Abel released its eponymous debut in 2008. The gold-certified set has spawned three Top 10 singles: "Addicted," "18 Days" and "Drowning (Face Down)."

Earlier this year, the rock quintet unveiled "18 Days Tour EP," a three-track disc featuring an acoustic version of "18 Days" and two previously unreleased songs: "Goodbye" and "Trying to Clear My Head."