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The \u201ccougar\u201d has been unleashed.<\/p>\n
John Mellencamp<\/a> just announced he\u2019s striking out on his nationwide \u2018Dancing Words Tour\u2019 that will send him to fairgrounds, amphitheaters and pavilions from July through August 2026.<\/p>\n That includes a pair of stops in New York and New Jersey.<\/p>\n First, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is slated to hit Holmdel, NJ\u2019s PNC Bank Arts Center<\/a> on Saturday, July 25.<\/p>\n Then, on Sunday, July 26, NY-based Mellencampers can find him at Long Island\u2019s Jones Beach Theater<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to a press release, the 74-year-old Indiana native \u201cwill be performing all his most beloved songs in a single night [at all shows], some of which haven\u2019t been played live in many years.\u201d<\/p>\n We expect that to mean he\u2019ll bust out biggies like \u201cJack & Diane,\u201d \u201cPink Houses,\u201d \u201cHurts So Good,\u201d \u201cSmall Town,\u201d \u201cCherry Bomb\u201d and more.<\/p>\n At past concerts on his 2024 \u2018Live and In Person Tour,\u2019 the heartland rocker typically performed 19 tracks per gig, according to Set List FM<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cNow 72 [editor\u2019s note: at the time of this 2024 show; the rocker will turn 75 in October], Mellencamp remains engaging and charismatic, moving around with the energy of someone 20 years younger,\u201d Americana Highways<\/a> wrote about an April \u201924 performance in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n \u201cA longtime chain smoker, his singing voice is raspy and gravel-soaked, but he knows how to work around it, using the deficit of age to give his best-known hits the combination of joy and melancholy.\u201d<\/p>\n If this sounds like the show for you, John Mellecamp tickets become available first for select dates through a pre-sale that starts Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 10 am local time.<\/p>\n Tickets officially go on sale to the general public on Friday, Jan. 23 at 10 am local time through Ticketmaster<\/a> but are available now on trusted secondary market sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats and GameTime.<\/p>\n We only recommend sites with a 100% buyer guarantee, so you know your transaction is safe and your tickets will arrive on time.<\/p>\n John Mellencamp tickets<\/p>\n Inventory to see John Mellencamp live is available on all verified ticketing sites.<\/p>\n We recommend checking out StubHub<\/a>,\u00a0Ticketmaster<\/a>,\u00a0Vivid Seats<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0GameTime<\/a> to find the seats that makes the most sense for you.<\/p>\n John Mellencamp tour schedule 2026<\/p>\n A complete calendar including all North American tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.<\/p>\n John Mellencamp tour datesJuly 10 at the Acrisure Amphitheater in Grand Rapids, MI<\/a>July 11 at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, IL<\/a>July 13 at the Morton Amphitheater in Riverside, MO<\/a>July 14 at the Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee, MN<\/a>July 16 at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI<\/a>July 18 at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN<\/a>July 19 at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH<\/a>July 21 at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH<\/a>July 24 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA<\/a>July 25 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ<\/a>July 26 at the Jones Beach Theater in Long Island, NY<\/a>July 29 at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, VA<\/a>July 30 at the Truliant Amphitheater in Charlotte, NC<\/a>Aug. 1 at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, GA<\/a>Aug. 3 at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, FL<\/a>Aug. 6 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX<\/a>Aug. 9 at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, AZ<\/a>Aug. 10 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA<\/a>Aug. 12 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA<\/a><\/p>\n John Mellencamp set list<\/p>\n At that April 18, 2024 \u2018Live and In Person\u2019 Washington, D.C. concert, Mellencamp whipped out a 19-song show. According to Set List FM<\/a>, here are the tracks he took to the stage.<\/p>\n 01.) \u201cJohn Cockers\u201d<\/p>\n 02.) \u201cPaper in Fire\u201d<\/p>\n 03.) \u201cMinutes to Memories\u201d<\/p>\n 04.) \u201cSmall Town\u201d<\/p>\n 05.) \u201cHuman Wheels\u201d<\/p>\n 06.) \u201cJackie Brown\u201d<\/p>\n 07.) \u201cTroubled Land\u201d<\/p>\n 08.) \u201cCheck It Out\u201d<\/p>\n 09.) \u201cThe Eyes of Portland\u201d<\/p>\n 10.) \u201cLongest Days\u201d<\/p>\n 11.) \u201cJack & Diane\u201d<\/p>\n 12.) \u201cThe Real Life\u201d<\/p>\n 13.) \u201cRain on the Scarecrow\u201d<\/p>\n 14.) \u201cLonely Ol\u2019 Night\u201d<\/p>\n 15.) \u201cWhat If I Came Knocking\u201d<\/p>\n 16.) \u201cCrumblin\u2019 Down\u201d<\/p>\n 17.) \u201cPink Houses\u201d<\/p>\n 18.) \u201cCherry Bomb\u201d<\/p>\n 19.) \u201cHurts So Good\u201d<\/p>\n Indiana football<\/p>\n On top of the tour, Mellencamp has been in the public consciousness these past few months because the No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers are using \u201cHurts So Good\u201d at their games for full-on crowd singalongs.<\/p>\n You can find a clip of fans crooning with the Cougar at the Rose Bowl here<\/a>.<\/p>\n John Mellencamp new music<\/p>\n \u201cOrpheus Descending,\u201d<\/a> released in June 2023, is Mellencamp\u2019s 25th studio album.<\/p>\n The soulful 11-track record showcases the gruff, gravelly voice that the Farm Aid founder has grown into over the years.<\/p>\n In fact, at this point, one might argue he sounds more like Tom Waits than the John Mellencamp you know and love.<\/p>\n However, that\u2019s not a complaint on our end; we fell in love with the bluesy \u201cAmen,\u201d \u201cOne More Trick\u2019s\u201d twang and the plaintive \u201cPerfect World.\u201d<\/p>\n For our money though, the standout songs are the fiery opening track \u201cHey God\u201d and the jaunty, message-heavy \u201cThe Eyes Of Portland\u201d which evoke a Springsteen-like spirit.<\/p>\n Want to hear the record for yourself?<\/p>\n You can find the impassioned \u201cOrpheus Descending\u201d in its entirety here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Huge classic rockers on tour in 2026<\/p>\n Many of our favorites from way back when will be touring the U.S. of A this year.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t believe us?<\/p>\n Here are just five, non-negotiable, can\u2019t-miss icons you\u2019ll want need to carve out time for these next few months.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Bob Dylan<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Robert Plant<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0James Taylor<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Graham Nash<\/a><\/p>\n Who else is on the road again? Take a look at our list of all the biggest classic rockers on tour in 2026<\/a> to find the show for you.<\/p>\n This article was written by Matt Levy<\/a>, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows \u2013 and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert<\/a> and interviewed Melissa Villase\u00f1or<\/a> of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t