AEG LIVE ANNOUNCES JOHN EXTENDS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PLAIN SPOKEN TOUR

ASCAP Founders Award Recipient Announces Final Leg of National Tour Having Played Over 100 Sold-Out Shows To Date

New York, NY (April 22, 2016) – John Mellencamp’s Plain Spoken Tour has been called “a triumphant, career-spanning show” (Hollywood Reporter) and a “superb performance…still full of fiery defiance” (Boston Globe). The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer launched the tour in early 2015 to support his critically-acclaimed 22nd studio album ‘Plain Spoken’ and extended with dates through Spring 2016 due to overwhelming fan demand. Following a run of more than 100 sold-out shows, Mellencamp announced today the seventh and final leg of the Plain Spoken tour, with support artist Carlene Carter, kicking off October 11 at the Hanover Theater in Worcester, MA.
The tour will see The GRAMMY winner travel to 13 intimate venues across the country performing songs from his 22-studio album catalogue. Praised as “arguably the most important roots rocker of his generation”, Mellencamp's illustrious career has spanned more than four decades and continues to endure. The performance at the legendary The Chicago Theatre on Tuesday, October 25 will mark the return to Chicago where he performed two previous sold-out shows, and this concert will be filmed to capture Mellencamp’s spectacular showmanship on-stage.

ASCAP is set to honor MELLENCAMP with the prestigious Founders Award at the Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards on April 27. The award recognizes pioneering ASCAP songwriters who have made exceptional contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators. Past recipients have included Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox and others. The very same evening, Mellencamp will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Produced by AEG Live, the Fall 2016 leg of the Plain Spoken Tour will go on sale Fri., April. 29 and VIP tickets will be available at mellencamp.com and aeglive.com .
Praise for Plain Spoken Tour:

“The bluesy rock and roll voice that made him a Hall of Famer has a bit of extra gravel these days. But one thing that hasn't changed about John Mellencamp, as he proved Jan. 27 on the first of a two-night stand at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, is that he puts on one of the most electrifying rock shows in the business.” - AXS

“Friday night at a sold-out Louisville Palace, the 63-year-old Mellencamp had his share of fun — he's always been a consummate showman — but there was an underlying richness to his set that was far more impressive.”- Louisville Courier Journal

“The near-capacity crowd roared its approval — they were shouting back the lyrics with the gusto of a bloodthirsty mob — and in doing so, validated his decades of furious, Midwestern rock and roll.”- Fort Worth Star Telegram

“If you mixed a preacher, a punch press operator and an old bluesman together in the back of a cement mixer, John Mellencamp would come out in the pour.” – Duluth News-Tribune

Plain Spoken Tour
Tickets on sale Fri., April 29 at 10am local time unless otherwise noted.
Tues 11-Oct Worcester, MA The Hanover Theatre**
Wed 12-Oct Utica, NY The Stanley Theatre
Fri14-Oct Wilkes-Barre, PA FM Kirby Center
Sat 15-Oct Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Event Center
Tues 18-Oct Hershey, PA Hershey Theatre*
Wed 19-Oct Akron, OH Akron Civic Theatre
Fri 21-Oct Toledo, OH Stranahan Theatre
Sat 22-Oct Niagara Falls, NY Seneca Niagara Casino ***
Tues 25-Oct Chicago, IL The Chicago Theatre**
Wed 26-Oct Richmond, KY EKU Center For The Arts
Fri 28-Oct Columbia, MO Jesse Auditorium
Sun 30-Oct Ames, IA Stephens Auditorium
Tue 1-Nov Lincoln, NE Lied Center for the Performing Arts*
Wed 2-Nov Sioux Falls, SD Washington Pavilion
Fri 4-Nov Grand Forks, ND Chester Fritz Auditorium
*On-sale Fri., April 29 at 12pm local time
**On-sale Fri., May 6 at 10am local time
***On-sale Fri., May 20 at 12pm local time

JOHN MELLENCAMP Mellencamp’s career in music, spanning more than 35 years, has seen him transition from pop star to one of the most highly regarded songwriters of a generation. The Voice of The Heartland continued to evolve artistically with Plain Spoken, John's 22nd full length album. Mellencamp is incredibly acclaimed. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy winner, a recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award, The Woody Guthrie Award, and Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. Also, will John receives the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award - another milestone in his brilliant career. He is also one of the most successful live concert performers in the world. The social activism reflected in his songs helped catalyze Farm Aid, the concert series and organization that has addressed the struggle of American family farmers for more than 25 years. The unique instrumentation of his band and his poignant songs about everyday life in the American heartland, are widely credited with being the forbearer of the Americana/No Depression genre of rural-inflected music. The Ghost Brothers of Darkland County is a musical with music and lyrics by John Mellencamp, a libretto by author Stephen King and production by T Bone Burnett. The musical completed 2 successful tours in North America and is currently in workshop in London. John Mellencamp completed an 80-city tour in North American in 2015, and is continuing the journey for more lucky fans in 2016.