Erica Penley found her first Tom Petty record in a thrift store when she was 16.
“It was like a really great treasure find in a thrift store,” the 20-year-old said.
Now, the Santa Fe College education junior can’t wait to hear “Free Fallin’,” her favorite Petty song, performed live Friday.
Heartwood Soundstage, located at 619 S. Main St., and CPW Productions will host a Tom Petty tribute at 5 p.m., featuring local Tom Petty cover band, Heavy Petty, food trucks, a bounce house and a raffle, said David Melosh, a Heartwood Soundstage co-owner.
“I think actually having a big group of people who have been touched by his music together and giving them time to both mourn and celebrate his life is going to be something really special,” he said.
Despite high production costs, Melosh made the event free.
“Whenever there’s an event, especially a tribute like this, it’s really important not to capitalize off of this sort of tragedy,” he said.
About 1,500 tickets were claimed online as of Tuesday. Melosh is considering adding more tickets to the 2,000 tickets he planned on distributing.
Penley already got a ticket for the tribute to Petty, who she thinks is a friend more than a rock star.
“I feel like I almost kind of knew him personally because when people write music they put their heart and soul into it,” she said.
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