The once recluse will be making sure to pay some of us a visit next year.

The story off Jeff Mangum is something that can’t help but bear some similarities to Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” While Mangum was never known for being cruel, his unusual shut-in persona definitely gave off the perception of a man who simply did not like people. In a way, his depriving us of music for over a decade was a form of miserly cruelty.

The analogy is supported by his sudden, and cheerful return. Playing a string of shows and festivals in 2011, including a surprise visit to Occupy Wall Street where he encouraged to fans to sing along with his songs as he strummed an acoustic guitar on the streets of New York. It was if playing the Chris Knox benefit last year was the equivalent of Mangum being visited by the three spirits of Christmas.

Since then it’s been a joyous campaign which continues into 2012 as Mangum has announces tour dates for next year, hitting spots in Brooklyn, Atlanta, Chicago, London, and several other spots. Maybe so much activity will inspire the man to write again (eh?). Here are the tour dates and a clip from Mangum’s OWS performance.

01-18 New Haven, CT – Shubert Theater
01-20 Brooklyn, NY – Gilman Opera House at Brooklyn Academy of Music
01-25 Philadelphia, PA – Irvine Auditorium at University of Pennsylvania
01-27 Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
01-30 Chapel Hill, NC – Memorial Hall at University of North Carolina
02-01 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
02-04 Minneapolis, MN – Pantages Theatre
02-06 Chicago, IL – Athenaeum Theater
02-07 Chicago, IL – Athenaeum Theater
02-08 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
02-10 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
02-11 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
03-07 Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
03-09-11 Minehead, England – ATP Curated By Jeff Mangum
03-13 London, England – Union Chapel
03-14 London, England – Union Chapel