The Chieftains are to celebrate their 50th year in 2012 with a new studio album featuring collaborations with a host of, as they put it, "like-minded musical visionaries and kindred spirits." to answer your obvious question of "who are these kindred spirits?!", here you go: Titled Voice of Ages, it's set to feature the collaborative efforts of Justin Vernon and Bon Iver, The Decemberists, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Civil Wars, Paolo Nutini, The Low Anthem, The Secret Sisters, and Lisa Hannigan and many more. To me, it sounds like a musical cauldron of promiscuity that will result in musical babies of joy, but that's just me.

Along with that the band have announced a rather large tour of the U.S. for early next year rolling into the UK later in 2012 for more dates. Check them out after the jump.

Voice of Ages is set for release on the 21st of February through Hear/Concorde.