John Mellencamp Sets 2011 Tour Dates, Fall 2010 Launching in Late October

John Mellencamp launches the first leg of his No Better Than This Tour at the end of  this month on October 29 and has announced new dates for 2011, kicking off in February. 

The "Evening With John Mellencamp" takes the veteran American singer-songwriter and rock icon to theater-sized venues for intimate performances that promise to covers various eras of his career, now spanning more than 30 years. 

The new North American tour dates in 2011 begin in New England and include stops in Canada as well as New York, Washington, Philadelphia, the Carolinas and Florida. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 15 at 10 a.m.

The concerts will feature three segments: Mellencamp in an acoustic context; fronting a small combo recalling blues/country and rockabilly roots; and with his full rock band.  Mellencamp 's current group includes Michael Wanchic  (guitar), Andy York (guitar), Miriam Sturm (violin), John Gunnell (electric and upright bass), Dane Clark (drums) and Troye Kinnett (accordion/keyboards).

Mellencamp's latest album No Better Than This is his debut on Rounder Records, produced by T Bone Burnett. The album spent five weeks in a row at #1 on the Americana Music Chart. Recorded in three historic locations - Savannah’s First African Baptist Church, Sun Studio in Memphis and Room 414 of San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel where Robert Johnson  recorded in 1936 - the sessions taped - that's right, taped - on a 55-year-old mono recorder using just one vintage microphone at each location.  See a That Writer Guy review here and also at Buzzine. For a look at his retrospective from last summer, On the Rural Route 7609, head here.

Tickets bought for the newly announced dates include a digital  

download of No Better Than This. Details regarding how to redeem the  

album download will be sent via email a few days following purchase to  

ticket buyers with instructions on Mellencamp.com.

The "opening act" will be a documentary film by Kurt Markus entitled It’s About You.  Shot on Super8 film over the course of last year’s Bob Dylan-John Mellencamp-Willie Nelson tour of minor league baseball stadiums, it chronicles  

the creation of No Better Than This.  Markus' still work as a photographer includes documenting the American West. He is the recipient of Life Magazine’s Alfred Eisenstaedt Photography Award. 

Mellencamp said, “I’m very excited to have the opportunity at this time in my life to go on tour and present these songs in this manner."

John Mellencamp No Better Than This Tour 2011:

Feb. 3 - Lowell, MA - Lowell Memorial Auditorium

Feb. 4 - Waterbury, CT - Palace Theatre

Feb. 6 - Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre

Feb. 9 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall

Feb. 15 - Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall

Feb. 18 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall*

Feb. 21 - Philadelphia, PA - Academy Of Music

Feb. 24 - Richmond, VA - Landmark Theatre

Feb. 26 - Columbia, SC - Township Auditorium

Feb. 27 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre

Mar. 1 - Durham, NC - Durham PAC

Mar. 3 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Broward Center

Mar. 4 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall

Mar. 5 - Jacksonville, FL – Times Union Center Moran Theatre

* Radio City Music Hall tickets on sale Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m.

Mellencamp Upcoming Fall 2010 Tour:

Oct. 29 - Bloomington, IN - Indiana University Auditorium

Oct. 30 – Bloomington, IN – Indiana University Auditorium

Nov. 1 - Cincinnati, OH - Music Hall

Nov. 3 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Nov. 5 - Kansas City, MO – The Midland by AMC

Nov. 6 – St. Louis, MO - Fabulous Fox Theatre

Nov. 8 - Indianapolis, IN - Clowes Memorial Hall

Nov. 11 - Indianapolis, IN - Hinkle Fieldhouse

Nov. 13 - South Bend, IN - Morris Performing Arts Center

Nov. 16 - Fort Wayne, IN - Embassy Theatre

Nov. 17 – Cleveland, OH – Palace Theater

Nov. 19 – Detroit, MI –Fox Theatre

Nov. 20 - Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Hall

Nov. 22 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre 

Nov. 23 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre 

Nov. 26 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre

Nov. 27 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre