The night before Thanksgiving, a very lucky sold-out Louisville crowd was given one more reason to be thankful. Organized by Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket) and Craig Pfunder (VHS or Beta), “Into the Great Wide Open: A Celebration of Tom Petty” boasted an impressive lineup of local favorites collaborating to pay tribute to the legendary rocker.
Held at Headliners Music Hall, the evening was sweaty, joyous, and at times simply magical. Thoughtfully curated songs from Tom Petty’s impressive career paired perfectly with the different voices and personalities of one talented Louisville musician after another.
Notables gracing the stage included Jim James, Tom Blankenship, Patrick Hallahan, Craig Pfunder, Scott Carney, Mark Charles Heidinger, Willie Maclean, Todd Hildreth, Tony Esposito, Nick Wilkerson, Dante Schwebel, Adam Turla, Katie Toupin, Dawn Landes, Johnny Berry, Joe Manning, Cheyenne Mize, David Bird, and Tyler Lance Walker Gill. Heck of a lineup, for sure.
It was a beautiful way to honor Tom Petty’s legacy and perhaps the coolest start to a Thanksgiving weekend I’ve ever experienced. Louisville is a city bursting with talent and it was thrilling to be a witness to some of it for one extraordinary night.
