John Mayer’s new “Battle Studies” album is in stores this week, and the singer/Twitter King will embark on a tour with Michael Franti & Spearhead in February to support the release.  Mayer will first play the Verizon Center in D.C. on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $42.50-$78 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.

Colbie Caillat will headline the Q94 and Lite 98 Christmas show at The National on Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.  The singer, who performed with Jason Mraz on the hit “Lucky,“ is enjoying the success of her second album, “Breakthrough.“ It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart in September.

Country princess Taylor Swift will keep her “Fearless” tour rolling through next year and swing by John Paul Jones Arena on March 20 at 7 p.m.  Swift, who turns 20 next month, will perform with Gloriana, and “American Idol” alum Kellie Pickler will open the show.

Chris Brown is heading back to the music world with his “Fan Appreciation” tour, which will make a stop at the Landmark Theater at 6 p.m. Nov. 22.  Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow for $44.50.  Joining Brown are The New Boyz and Audio Push.  A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Jenesse Center, a Los Angeles-based organization for victims of domestic violence, and Best Buddies International, which helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Phish returns to the road next month and will end its tour at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. The original lineup of Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon and Page McConnell reunited in March for the first time in four years for a three-night stand at Hampton Coliseum. Tickets to the JPJ show are $50 and on sale at 10 a.m. today at the box office, www. johnpauljonesarena.com, Plan 9 locations or by calling (888) 575-8497.

R.Kelly will return to Richmond for a Dec. 5 show at the Landmark Theater. The R&B singer last played here in 2007.  Kelly will be joined by Pleasure P on what is dubbed the “Ladies Make Some Noise” tour.  Tickets for the show go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. for $50.50-$96.  . . .

Aquartet of modern folkies—Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, Jim James and M Ward—is teaming for the Monsters of Folk tour, which comes to the Landmark on Nov. 10.  The concert will showcase music from the foursome’s current project, as well as music from their respective other projects: Bright Eyes (Oberst and Mogis), My Morning Jacket (James) and Ward’s solo catalog.

The National is squeezing in a couple of more shows at the end of the year.  New Potato Caboose with Indecision will perform Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 ($18 day of show) and go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.  Also on sale at the same time are tickets for Keller Williams, who will play two full sets beginning Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18 ($21 day of show).

If you didn’t get enough lighter-waving action at Journey a few weeks ago, you’ll get another chance in November when Styx and REO Speedwagon hit the Richmond Coliseum.  The classic rock-pop bands will be joined by Bo Bice the “American Idol” runner-up to Carrie Underwood for a show at 7 p.m. Nov. 3.

Parrotheads will have to swap their flip-flops for boots this fall when Jimmy Buffett comes to Charlottesville.  The perennial patron of Margaritaville will perform at John Paul Jones Arena on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.  Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. for $36 to $136. There is a six-ticket-per-customer limit.

Chris Daughtry, one of the most successful losers in “American Idol” history, embarks on an arena tour this fall with his self-named band.  The show, which also features Theory of a Deadman and Cavo, hits John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville on Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Three schools will benefit from college scholarship programs created by The LeRoi Moore Fund. The trust of the late Dave Matthews Band saxophonist—a Charlottesville resident—will grant North Carolina Central University, Albemarle High School and the University of Virginia School of Nursing with four-year scholarships to begin with the 2010-2011 academic year. The fund also will make annual contributions to Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Moore died in August 2008 from complications after an ATV accident earlier that summer.  . . .  Janet Jackson will make a special appearance at the start of Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards. Jackson is expected to open the show with a tribute to her brother Michael. The live show airs at 9 p.m.  . . .  Gavin Rossdale will play a Goth rock star who might be a serial killer on a November episode of CBS’ “Criminal Minds.“  . . .  Jay-Z’s “Answer the Call” charity concert at Madison Square Garden tomorrow will be televised live on Fuse at 9 p.m. The show will raise money for the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.  . . .  Coming Sept. 29 is “The World According to Miley Cyrus: An Unauthorized Story.“ Speaking of Miss Miley, she and her fellow “divas”—Kelly Clarkson, Adele, Leona Lewis and Jordin Sparks—will be joined by Jennifer Hudson at the Sept. 17 “VH1 Divas” concert, airing live at 9 p.m. on VH1. Also bringing some estrogen to the festivities are Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper and Martina McBride.

It will be a regular yuk-fest around here this fall, with Larry the Cable Guy coming to the Richmond Coliseum and Brian Regan hitting the Carpenter Theatre.  The guy legally known as Daniel Lawrence Whitney will “git-r-done” Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the coliseum.

Bruce Hornsby’s appearance with his band, the Noise Makers, originally slated to sell tickets last weekend, will now go on sale tomorrow for his Oct. 3 date at 8 p.m. at The National.  Tickets are $35 for reserved-seat balcony and general-admission standing and $50 for reserved-seat orchestra.

Bruce Hornsby will release a new album, “Levitate,“ on Sept. 15, and a few weeks later he’ll return to Richmond to debut some of those tunes.  The Williamsburg native will perform at The National at 8 p.m. Oct. 3. Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow for $35 (standing general admission and balcony), $50 (orchestra sections) and $100 for an orchestra seat that includes a meet-and-greet and autograph signing with Hornsby.