Bonnie Raitt fans are a patient bunch. At the beginning of her career they were spoiled with an album almost every year, until she dropped off to making a record every two or three years. But there has never been a lag like the one between her 2005 album “Souls Alike” and her upcoming album “Slipstream,” which will be released in April 2012 — making for a total of 7 years in between each. But Ms. Raitt is thankful for the patience her fans have shown and that’s why along with her 16th studio album, she’s also going on tour to promote it.

The tour will begin on May 1 on Newkirk, Oklahoma where it will then travel around the United States and Canada for a total of 31 performances. Notable stops along the way are the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 6; Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada on May 26; the Beacon Theatre in New York on June 20; and the show on June 24 in Hyannis, Massachusetts, which will wrap it all up.

“Slipstream” isn’t available in stores until April 20, but you can buy it before then on iTunes, Amazon, and anywhere digital music is sold. If you have to wait until it hits the shelves, you can get a sneak peek of it by listening to her first single from the album, “Right Down the Line” here, on “Rolling Stone’s” exclusive stream.