Pitchfork

Does Gwen Stefani read music websites? Last time she toured, the No Doubt princess took M.I.A. along as the opening act for part of her trek. And now, when she hits the road this spring to support last year's (unfairly maligned, cough cough) The Sweet Escape, she's bringing another web-beloved phenomenon: Lady Sovereign.

Yeah, yeah, we know, Stefani is probably just looking for touring partners who compliment her cosmopolitan polyglot hip-pop aesthetic. But we can still fantasize about Gwen kicking back in her L.A.M.B. pajamas and geeking out over what's hot on the Hype Machine, right?

Everybody's favorite ass-smackin', stripper-luvin' Senegalese hook man Akon is also along for the ride. (Cue sound of prison doors closing.)

Here's what Gwen had to say about her tourmates, in a post on her website: "I'm excited to have this opportunity to tour with Akon and Lady Sovereign, two original artists that I have so much respect for. I can't wait to get out there. This show is going to be spectacular!"

Sov better watch out on that June 19 date at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, though. We know a certain pastry in the San Francisco area who is dying to see her again.

Wind it up:

04-22 San Diego, CA - Coors Amphitheatre *
04-24 Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center *
04-25 Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena *
04-27 Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre #
04-28 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion
04-30 Salt Lake City, UT - The E Center
05-02 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
05-03 Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
05-05 Dallas, TX - Smirnoff Music Center
05-06 Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
05-08 Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre
05-11 Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
05-12 Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
05-14 Raleigh, NC - AllTell Pavilion
05-15 Virginia Beach, VA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
05-17 Bristow, VA - Nissan Pavilion
05-18 Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
05-20 Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach Theatre
05-21 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Area
05-23 Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center
05-24 Camden, NJ - Tweeter Center
05-27 Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata #
05-29 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
05-30 Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
06-01 Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
06-02 Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
06-04 Omaha, NB - Qwest Center
06-05 St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
06-07 Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
06-08 Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
06-10 Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
06-12 Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
06-13 Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome
06-15 Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place
06-16 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
06-18 Sacramento, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
06-19 Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
06-22 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

* no Lady Sov
# no Akon