Dylan, Mellencamp and Nelson Line Up 2009 Ballpark Tour

As Rock Daily previously speculated, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson are teaming up for the 2009 Ballpark Tour. The jaunt kicks off July 2nd in Sauget, Illinois, with the trio playing minor league baseball stadiums across the country until August 15th. Tickets for the tour, which are all general admission and $67.50, begin to go on sale May 2nd. In addition to peanuts and Cracker Jacks, the tour will also allow free admission for children 14 and younger.

Dylan has long had an obsession with the National Pastime, dedicating a week of his Theme Time Radio Hour to the sport and touring baseball stadiums in 2004 with Nelson. News of the trek first spread when Joan Baez let the word slip after playing "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" during a concert in Bloomington, Indiana. With John Mellencamp in the crowd, Baez said "Mellencamp? Are you really going to go on tour with that guy [Dylan]? Seriously, come talk to me after the show." Mellencamp's Website later promised a tour of minor league baseball stadiums with two major artists in tow. Check below for the current run of 2009 Ballpark Tour dates.

Bob Dylan/John Mellencamp/Willie Nelson

July 2 - Sauget, IL @ GCS Ballpark
July 4 - South Bend, IN @ Coveleski Stadium
July 8 - Louisville, KY @ Louisville Slugger Field
July 10 - Dayton, OH @ Fifth Third Field
July 11 - Eastlake, OH @ Classic Park
July 13 - Washington, PA @ Consol Energy Park
July 14 - Allentown, PA @ Coca-Cola Park
July 15 - New Britain, CT @ New Britain Stadium
July 19 - Syracuse, NY @ Alliance Bank Stadium
July 21 - Pawtucket, RI @ McCoy Stadium
July 23 - Lakewood, NJ @ FirstEnergy Park
July 24 - Aberdeen, MD @ Ripken Stadium
July 25 - Norfolk, VA @ Harbor Park
July 28 - Durham, NC @ Durham Bulls Athletic Park
July 29 - Sevierville, TN @ Smokies Park
August 4 - Round Rock, TX @ The Dell Diamond
August 5 - Corpus Christi, TX @ Whataburger Field
August 7 - Grand Prairie, TX @ QuikTrip Park
August 11 - Glendale, AZ @ Camelback Ranch
August 12 - Las Vegas, NV @ Cashman Field
August 14 - Fresno, CA @ Chukchansi Park
August 15 - Stockton, CA @ Banner Island Ballpark

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Song Stories

“(We're Not) The Jet Set”

George Jones and Tammy Wynette | 1973

George Jones and Tammy Wynette were still married when they recorded the tongue-in-cheek "(We're Not) The Jet Set." The lyrics, written by Nashville songwriter Bobby Braddock, who also penned Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," make fun of the good life by declaring, "We're not the Jet Set/We're the old Chevrolet set." Braddock recalled that while writing the song, he needed the name of a city that evened out the rhyme he had with "Riviera" and "Missourah." “I got out a Rand McNally atlas," he said. "In the first part are the maps. The last part is an alphabetical listing of cities. I wanted a rustic, small-time sound. I went to the listing for Missouri. And I found 'Festus.' I loved the sound of it."

More Song Stories entries »

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