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John Mellencamp Powering Up 'Rural Electrification' Tour
Heartland rocker will perform in 40 cities over two months, starting May 5 in
Woodlands, Texas.
Senior Writer Gil Kaufman reports:
Heartland rocker John Mellencamp will launch his first major concert tour in more than
two years May 5 with a show at the Woodlands Pavilion in Woodlands, Texas.
Mellencamp has scheduled 40 dates at various outdoor amphitheaters and arenas in
support of his self-titled 1998 album, which features the song "Your Life is Now"
(RealAudio excerpt).
The two-month string of shows, dubbed the "Rural Electrification" tour, will bring the
singer/songwriter to California in early May, then he'll trek across the Midwest, up
the East Coast and back through Texas. The tour will wind up July 16 at the Coca-Cola
Starplex Amphitheatre in Dallas.
Roots-rockers Son Volt are set as the opening act.
According to Indiana native Mellencamp, the name of the tour is derived from his
eagerness to bring the music from his most recent album to his fans.
"In the '30s, rural electrification brought electricity to farmers and other rural
dwellers for the first time in their lives," Mellencamp stated in a press release
announcing the tour. "And along with that electricity came radios and record players:
Music!
"We're lucky enough that, for the last 20 years, we've had the opportunity to play our
own small part in bringing music to people; to entertain them and have a lot of fun in
the process."
John Mellencamp Tour Dates:
May 5; Woodlands, Texas; Woodlands Pavilion
May 7; Phoenix, Ariz.; Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion
May 8; Los Angeles, Calif.; Hollywood Bowl
May 9; Chula Vista, Calif.; Coors Amphitheater
May 11; Mountain View, Calif.; Shoreline Amphitheater
May 12; Concord, Calif.; Concord Pavilion
May 14; George, Wash.; The Gorge
May 17; West Valley, Utah; E Center
May 19; Morrison, Colo.; Red Rocks Amphitheater
May 21; Bonner Springs, Mo.; Sandstone
May 22; Maryland Heights, Mo.; Riverport Amphitheater
May 23; Antioch, Tenn.; First American Music Center
May 26; Minneapolis, Minn.; Target Center
May 27; Madison, Wis.; Kohl Center
May 28; Tinley Park, Ill.; The New World Music Theatre
June 11; Hartford, Conn.; The Meadows Amphitheater
June 12; Mansfield, Mass.; Great Woods Center
June 13; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 15; Hershey, Pa.; Star Pavilion
June 16; Holmdel, N.J.; PNC Bank/Garden State Arts Center
June 19; Philadelphia, Pa.; First Union Center
June 20; Burgettstown, Pa.; Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheater
June 22; Cincinnati, Ohio; Riverbend Music Center
June 23; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Blossom Music Center, Stadium
June 29; Columbus, Ohio; Polaris Amphitheater
June 30; Detroit, Mich.; Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 2; Milwaukee, Wis.; Milwaukee Summerfest
July 3-4; Indianapolis, Ind.; Deer Creek Music Center
July 6; Vienna, Va.; Barns At Wolf Trap
July 7; Raleigh, N.C.; Walnut Creek
July 9; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Coral Sky Amphitheater
July 11; Atlanta, Ga.; Chastain Park Amphitheater
July 13; Charlotte, N.C.; Blockbuster Pavilion
July 14; Louisville, Ky.; Freedom Hall
July 16; Dallas, Texas; Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheater
