John Mellencamp will return to the road this summer with a 19-date U.S. tour that spotlights his most beloved songs, marking the first time in many years the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will perform many of his biggest hits in a single night.
The Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits launches July 10 and will bring Mellencamp to major markets and iconic venues nationwide, including the Hollywood Bowl, Northwell at Jones Beach Theater and Xfinity Center. Produced by Live Nation, the tour is expected to be one of the most anticipated of the summer concert season.
Tickets will be available through a Citi presale beginning Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. local time, with additional presales running throughout the week. The general public onsale begins Friday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. local time at mellencamp.com. Citi is the official card of the tour.
Fans can expect a career-spanning set list that includes staples such as “Pink Houses,” “Jack and Diane,” “Small Town,” “Hurts So Good,” “Authority Song” and “Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First).” The tour will also feature deeper cuts Mellencamp has not performed live in more than a decade, including “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “I Need a Lover,” “Wild Nights” and “Ain’t Even Done With the Night.”
A cinematic trailer for the tour, featuring actor Sean Penn, was released alongside the announcement.
In addition to standard tickets, the Dancing Words Tour will offer VIP packages that include premium seating, access to a pre-show Scarecrow VIP Lounge, an autographed tour poster and exclusive merchandise.
The new tour follows Mellencamp’s successful “Live and In Person” runs in 2023 and 2024, which drew sold-out crowds across the country and widespread critical praise. Forbes noted that Mellencamp showed no signs of slowing down, while the Chicago Tribune highlighted the themes of identity and purpose that continue to define his songwriting.
Over a career spanning five decades, Mellencamp has earned induction into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His honors include the John Steinbeck Award, the Woody Guthrie Award and the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a co-founder of Farm Aid, the long-running benefit concert and advocacy organization supporting American family farmers.
Tour dates
uly 10 /// Grand Rapids, MI /// Acrisure Amphitheater
July 11 /// Tinley Park, IL /// Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
July 13 /// Kansas City, MO /// Morton Amphitheater
July 14 /// Shakopee, MN /// Mystic Lake Amphitheater
July 16 /// Clarkston, MI /// Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 18 /// Noblesville, IN /// Ruoff Music Center
July 19 /// Cincinnati, OH /// Riverbend Music Center
July 21 /// Cuyahoga Falls, OH /// Blossom Music Center
July 24 /// Mansfield, MA /// Xfinity Center
July 25 /// Holmdel, NJ /// PNC Bank Arts Center
July 26 /// Wantagh, NY /// Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
July 29 /// Bristow, VA /// Jiffy Lube Live
July 30 /// Charlotte, NC /// Truliant Amphitheater
August 1 /// Alpharetta, GA /// Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
August 3 /// Tampa, FL /// MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 6 /// Houston, TX /// The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 9 /// Phoenix, AZ /// Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
August 10 /// Hollywood, CA /// Hollywood Bowl
August 12 /// Mountain View, CA /// Shoreline Amphitheatre
