The holiday season has barely begun, but at least one rock act is already looking forward to one of the final winter holidays. Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys has announced plans for its annual St. Patrick’s Day concert series in Boston, as well as some other late winter tour dates.

The 2010 tour kicks off February 24 at Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ, and will go on to visit a dozen other U.S. markets during its run. The three-week outing concludes with Dropkick’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration from March 12-17 at the House of Blues in the band’s native Boston, MA.

Tickets for all 18 concerts went on sale at the end of November. The band has already sold out its March 12, 13 and 17 gigs, and considering the band’s ticket sale history, more sell-outs are sure to follow.

Dropkick Murphys completed a 17-date, sold-out tour of the U.S. and Canada just last month. That late-year venture launched November 4 at The Grove in Los Angeles, CA, and concluded November 23 at Pearl Street in Northampton, MA.

In addition to its various national and international touring ventures, the Celtic crew also has a couple of new albums on the way. The first upcoming release for Dropkick Murphys will be a live album, recorded during the 2009 St. Patrick’s Day run in Boston.

An exact release date for “Live on St. Patrick’s Day 2009” has not been announced, but in a statement on its official Web site, the group said it “will come out in time for next year’s shows, ready to get you in a festive mood ready for the 2010 debacle.”

A new album could also be on the way in time for the 2010 tour. A March 2009 report from Artisan News said that the band’s next studio record was lined up for the New Year. Original Dropkick member Ken Casey told the media outlet that the group hoped to debut new songs through 2009 to “let people know we’re working on new stuff.”

Dropkick Murphys itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)

February 24 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre
February 25 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
February 27 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
February 28 Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club
March 1 Dallas, TX House of Blues
March 2 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
March 3 Austin, TX Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
March 5 Tampsa, FL The Ritz
March 6 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution Live
March 7 Orlando, FL House of Blues
March 8 Charlotte, NC Filmore
March 9 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
March 12 – 17 Boston, MA House of Blues