TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY >>>

Dave Matthews will waddle back to the Gorge with all the hot rock 'n' roll excitement of a beige sweater to kick out the DMB noodle jams with openers The Avett Brothers Friday, August 31 through Sunday, Sept. 2.

A press release from Live Nation says, "Dave Matthews Band returns to the road this summer with an extensive North American summer tour launching on May 18 at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Woodlands, TX. The group - which ranked as the biggest ticket seller worldwide of the past decade - took last year off from touring, so this will be its first outing since 2010."

Matthews, of course, will sell out all three dates. 

What's cool is Allen Stone, the youngster from Chewelah, Wash., will open the shows. Seattle's City Arts mag says Stone has "...a voice that astounds everyone who hears it, a rich caramel tone as full as it is limber, reaching back into the annals of soul's greatest hitmakers, rippling like Stevie Wonder, swaying like Bill Withers, ascending like Prince. It's a voice that has attracted his young, talented bandmates and the night's adoring crowd. It's a voice that shatters prejudice. And it's a voice that is trying to say something."

Tickets are $48.50 and $75 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 9 at LiveNation.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone 1.800-.745.3000.