My Morning Jackets Jim James, Bright Eyes visionary Conor Oberst and singer/songwriter M. Ward will release a collaborative album as Monsters of Folk on September 22. The self-titled project was produced by Nebraskan native Mike Mogis and will feature original material by all three songwriters. Mogis has produced several Bright Eyes records and also worked with M. Ward on his _ Post-War_ album. Though no official announcement has been made, the group is expected to tour after the albums release.

James, Oberst and Ward first toured together under the Monsters of Folk alias in 2004. Each musician would play his own short set and then the three performers would collaborate on a mix of original songs and covers (including classics like Bob Dylans Girl Of The North Country and Willie Nelsons Always On My Mind).
M. Ward, Conor Oberst and myself have done several tours together called the Monsters of Folk, James told Relix/Jambands.com a few years ago. Wed play during each others sets and do our own sets as well. And M. went out on tour with us a few years ago. We were his backing band, and hed come out and play with is.

The modern folkies have also collaborated in a variety of settings over the past five years. Notably, in 2006 James sat in with Bright Eyes at Bonnaroo, and in 2008 Ward joined My Morning Jacket onstage at Coachella.