'Idols Live' tour dates set

LOS ANGELES, April 16 (UPI) -- The top 10 contestants from "American Idol" Season 8 are expected to begin their North American summer tour in July, 19 Entertainment Ltd. said.

19 Entertainment founder and chief executive officer and "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller, along with AEG Live, announced Thursday that tickets for the "American Idols Live! Tour" will go on sale May 9.

This season's "American Idol" top 10 contestants -- Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre -- are to kick off the tour in Portland, Ore., on July 5.

Additional ticket and tour information can be found at Americanidol.com.

"'American Idol' gives undiscovered talent the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform live every week on the show and now the tour will give America the unique chance to see these newly discovered stars performing in their own home town," Fuller said in a statement.