Blur plans June return to North America

British rockers Blur, who recently released their first album since the departure last year of founding guitarist Graham Coxon, have scheduled a mix of North American club and festival dates for June.

According to the band's publicist, the outing will be the first of two North American legs that the band has planned for this year.

Blur made a surprise appearance at the South by Southwest Music festival in March, and also performed at Southern California's Coachella Festival in April. The appearances marked the group's first in North America since 1999.

Blur's new album, titled "Think Tank," is led by the single "Crazy Beat," which is currently in heavy rotation on MTV2.

With Coxon's departure, Blur's core trio now includes lead vocalist Damon Albarn--who fronted Gorillaz during Blur's hiatus--bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Former Verve guitarist Simon Tong has served as the group's touring guitarist of late.