John Mellencamp [ tickets ]'s "1999 Rural Electrification Tour," which first hit the road this spring but been dormant since mid-July, will plug in again this October. Though dates beyond October haven't been announced, it's expected that Mellencamp will keep his music on the road through at least November, according to his official website (www.mellencamp.com).

Mellencamp re-launches his tour Oct. 1 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. The production then treks through Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and the Dakotas before wrapping up the month in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The Indiana native recently released the album ''Rough Harvest,'' which consists mostly of songs he recorded at his home studio in 1997. The low-profile release, which fulfills Mellencamp's contract with former label Mercury Records, debuted this week at #99 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

The current tour also supports Mellencamp's debut set for Columbia Records. The self-titled album, released in October of 1998, hasn't fared particularly well at retail to date and currently doesn't hold any position on the US pop album chart.

Mellencamp is also scheduled to play at this year's Farm Aid benefit, which is set for Sept. 12 at the Nissan Pavilion in Washington, D.C. He founded Farm Aid in 1985 with Willie Nelson and Neil Young. A New Year's Eve performance is expected as well.