Darren Criss Books 16-Date Concert Tour Behind ‘Listen Up…’

“Glee” star Darren Criss has announced his first solo concert tour later this year, which will serve as a preview for his upcoming debut album.

The 16-date “Listen Up” tour will kick off at the Fillmore in San Francisco on May 29, and will run about a month, with the final show coming June 30 at the Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. Other cities Criss will visit along the way include Los Angeles, Dallas, Nashville, Chicago, Minneapolis, Toronto, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia and Boston.

There hasn’t been much official word about the upcoming album, though Billboard reports it will likely be released on Columbia Records. Criss self-released an EP, Human, in 2009. That album reached the number 17 spot on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, and to date has sold around 27,000 copies.

He said in a statement that he wants to use the tour as a chance to get people excited for the new album.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the summer than being on the road and doing live shows,” he said. “I wanted to do something bigger than what I’ve done before — more cities and new music. It’s a real opportunity for me to connect with all the people who’ve supported me through the years, as well as a chance to get new folks excited. It’s gonna be a party for everyone!”

He added in a video about the tour that, “I still have these songs, and I really want to share them with people before we put them out into the world.”

Singer-songwriter Theo Katzman will open select dates throughout the tour, including a free show in Ann Arbor, Mich. That show will take place June 13, at Sonic Lunch/Michigan Theatre at the University of Michigan, where Katzman previously attended school.