There’s not much more we can say with a headline like that, though this isn’t CNN’s first indie flirtation: Widespread Panic, the Athens, GA jam band with over 20 years under their belt and who are poised to release their 11th album, will be the first of many house bands for the cable news giant after they move into their new broadcasting studio at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

Widespread Panic will take the stage this morning (May 11th), where it will play from 9-11 a.m. Eastern in the CNN Newsroom with host Kyra Phillips. During that two-hour block, the band will perform in and out of commercial breaks and answer some questions. Expect a lot of material and discussion about their upcoming effort Dirty Side Down.

Catch the band on a particularly dirty tour right now. Dirty Side Down is out May 25th via Dave Matthews’ ATO Records.

Widespread Panic 2010 Tour Dates:
06/05 – Ozark, AR @ Wakarusa Music Festival
06/25 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
06/26 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
06/27 – Morrisson, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
06/29 – Eugene, OR  @ Cuthbert Amphitheater
06/30 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
07/02 – Quincy, CA @ High Sierra Music Festival
07/03 – Boise, ID@ Outlaw Field at the Botanical Gardens *
07/06 – Omaha, NE @ Orpheum Theatre
07/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
07/09 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
07/10 – Morgantown, WV @ All Good Festival
07/13 – Columbus, OH @ Promowest Pavillion
07/15 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre *
07/16 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre *
07/17 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre *
07/20 – Philadelphia, PA?@ Tower Theatre
07/22 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
07/23 – Danbury, CT @ Ives Concert Park
07/24 – Boston, MA @ Bank of America Center *
07/26 – Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre *
07/27 – Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre *
07/28 – Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre *
07/30 – Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater *
07/31 – Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater *

* = “Feeding People Through Music” food drives