Kate Voegele is mounting her first headlining tour, Back 2 School, which is being sponsored by online higher learning institution University of Phoenix. The 40-date North American tour begins August 8 in Pomono, CA, and wraps on September 30 in Baltimore, MD.

Voegele is touring in support of her debut album “Don’t Look Away,” released on MySpace Records/Interscope. After the album’s release, Billboard named the Cleveland native an “Artist to Watch in ’08.”

In recent years, Voegele shared stages with the likes of Dave Matthews and John Mellencamp, performed at two consecutive Farm-Aid concerts, and played to packed houses at clubs and theaters nationwide. The announcement of this headlining tour comes on the heels of gigs with Ben Lee and Cary Brothers.

Voegele’s popularity has won her several marketing campaigns. She was named the “Steve Madden Music Spotlight of the Month” and will be spotlighted in an in-store and online marketing campaign for the footwear and apparel retailer. She is also the face of clothing brand Vanilla Star’s “Smart Girls Rock” campaign.

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While on tour, Voegele will chronicle her tour experience via regular video diaries as she strikes a balance between her musical career and two college courses. Currently, she is pursuing a psychology degree via the University of Phoenix. This behind-the-scenes access to Voegele will be accessible to her fans through weekly video journals, bulletins and “Ask Kate” forums that will be posted on MySpace.

“We are so excited to be working with University of Phoenix on this tour,” said J Scavo, general manager of MySpace Records, in a statement. “It truly represents what the MySpace Music platform is all about: creating unique opportunities for artists, fans, and brands to connect around music.”

Scavo also commented on Voegele’s spring tour, which Scavo called “unbelievable” with “an even bigger turnout than we ever expected.”

“Although her career path may be different from many of our students,” added Dr. Bill Pepicello, University of Phoenix president, “Kate’s commitment to her education is the same. She is one of over 345,000 current students who know University of Phoenix plays an important role in higher education today.”

Kate Voegele’s tour itinerary:
(Dates subject to change.)

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August 8 Pomona, CA Glass House
August 9 Laguna Hills, CA Laguna Hills Mall
August 11 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater
August 12 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
August 14 Salt Lake City, UT Club Sound
August 16 Omaha, NE Sokol Underground
August 17 Edina, MN Southdale Center
August 18 Milwaukee, WI Rave Bar
August 19 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
August 21 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen
August 22 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen
August 23 Gurnee, IL Gurnee Mills
August 24 Cleveland, OH Cambridge Room
August 26 Philadelphia, PA World Café
August 27 Norfolk, VA Norva
August 29 St. Petersburg, FL State Theater
August 30 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
August 31 Orlando, FL Social
September 3 Atlanta, GA The Loft
September 4 Birmingham, AL Workplay
September 5 New Orleans, LA House of Blues Parish
September 6 Houston, TX Wherehouse Studios
September 7 Dallas, TX The Loft
September 10 Los Angeles, CA Roxy
September 11 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
September 12 Santa Barbara, CA West Beach
September 13 San Diego, CA SOMA Sidestage
September 14 Phoenix, AZ Martini Ranch
September 16 Denver, CO Bluebird
September 18 St. Louis, MO FuBar
September 19 Indianapolis, IN Music Mill
September 20 Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theater
September 21 Detroit, MI Crofoot Ballroom
September 23 Toronto, ON El Mocambo
September 24 Rochester, NY Water Street
September 25 New York, NY Irving Plaza
September 26 Boston, MA Somerville
September 27 New Haven, CT Toad’s Place
September 28 South Hackensack, NJ School of Rock
September 30 Baltimore, MD 8×10
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