Today’s recap includes tour and festival announcements and more as compiled by TicketNews on December 19, 2008.

With a release date set for their new album “No Line on the Horizon,” speculation has resumed about if and when U2 will tour in 2009. The iconic Irish rock group has made it a habit to tour after each new release, so fans are hopeful that 2009 will be no exception.

Alt-country band Ryan Adams & The Cardinals will head out in 2009 for a new round of U.S. tour dates after completing their opening run with Oasis and a jaunt across Australia and New Zealand. …. Musician and activist Arlo Guthrie has an extensive itinerary lined up for 2009 that will take him to various cities across Europe and North America from the winter through the summer. … Rock-turned-country musician Kid Rock will perform at the BamaJam Music Festival. The event features country and alternative stages.

That’s all the news that’s fit to print today — well, almost. TicketNews has a few more itinerary and tour updates in brief to get your weekend started on the right foot.

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Ben Folds will be back on the road next year for at least three more shows. The rock pianist, who toured this fall to support his new release “Way to Normal,” will start up again with a Valentine’s Day show at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA. Two more shows follow for Mr. Folds: a February 17 session at Kool Haus in Toronto, ON, and a February 21 gig at Lifestyle Communities Pavilion in Columbus, OH.

Vince Gill is currently touring with wife Amy Grant’s annual Christmas tour. But next year the country performer will be going solo again for a number of scattered shows throughout the year. The first confirmed dates are set for January 15-17 at Laura Turner Concert Hall in Nashville, TN, followed by February 3, 17 and 24 sets at the Country Music Hall of Fame, also in Nashville. From there, Gill has a dozen dates scattered from March 26 at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, MI, through June 11 at State Theatre CFA in Easton, PA.

Rick Springfield will launch a new tour next year, with nearly 20 shows already set from February 6 at Wild Bill’s in Duluth, GA, through October 23 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Biloxi, MS. The ’80s daytime actor-turned musician will also stop for February 13-14 sets at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, TN, an April 25 concert at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV, and a September 26 gig at Ocean City Inlet in Ocean City, MD.

Brett Dennen has outlined an impressive 54-date tour that will take his across North America from a January 16 show at The Social in Orlando, FL, through an April 4 concert at Murray Theatre in Salt Lake City, UT. The singer-songwriter’s run includes a January 21 performance at Parish in New Orleans, LA, February 14 concert at the Paradise in Boston, MA, a February 26 set at Park West in Chicago, IL, a March 13 gig at Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR, March 20-21 sets at the Fillmore in San Francisco, CA, March 24-25 shows at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA, and an April 1 session at Belly Up in Aspen, CO.

Reverend Horton Heat has added a whopping 56 shows to his 2009 itinerary. The musician and his band will start out January 30 at Ogden Theatre in Denver, CO, and continue through July 25 at Granada Theatre in Dallas, TX. Highlights for the extensive outing include February 5-6 shows at Sandbar in Vail, CO, a February 14 session at the Fillmore in San Francisco, CA, a February 22 concert at the Hous e of Blues in Hollywood, CA, a May 1 gig at Cat’s Cradle in Carboro, NC, a May 6 concert at Blue Note in Columbia, MO, July 6-7 performances at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA, and a July 20 show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN.