Mellencamp cancels Oct. 27 show at U of I

Thursday, October 18, 2007 1:55 PM CDT

CHAMPAIGN — An Oct. 27 John Mellencamp-Los Lobos concert at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall has been canceled.

The announcement, released Friday by promoter Jam Productions, gave no reason for the cancellation, other than to indicate that the show would not be rescheduled.

Refunds will be available beginning Tuesday at the point of purchase.

The cancellation continues a run of bad luck for the Assembly Hall, which has seen two of its other major October concerts either postponed or cancelled.

The Oct. 11 show with country singer Travis Tritt was postponed to April 17 by what were described as Tritt’s “scheduling conflicts.”

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Monday night’s rap double-header with T.I. and T-Pain was postponed, with no rescheduled date yet announced.

The reason: T.I. was arrested Sunday on a federal weapons charge.

Mellencamp’s concert cancellation history has preceded him in Central Illinois: In November 2002, the rocker bowed out of his ISU Redbird Arena show at the last minute — literally.

His roadies were already setting up the sound equipment and the caterers had already filled the tables with food when the announcement came down.

No official reason for that cancellation was ever given.