The North Carolina Symphony performs Tom Petty's greatest hits with a full rock band, conducted by Brent Havens.
The North Carolina Symphony is bringing The Music of Tom Petty to the Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh on Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15, 2027. It's part of their 2026/27 season, and the setup is a bit different from a typical night at the symphony: the orchestra is joined by a full rock band, with Brent Havens conducting.
The program focuses on Petty's greatest hits, reimagined with orchestral sound and rock energy. "Free Fallin'", "American Girl", and "I Won't Back Down" are among the songs they'll be playing, and the full rock band stays on stage throughout to keep the original songs' drive intact while the symphony builds around them. It's a tribute to Petty's catalog rather than a standard classical performance, so the set leans on the songs most people know by heart.
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For a bit of context, the North Carolina Symphony is the state's orchestra, and this is one of the dates in their 2026/27 season. The two shows are on different days and at different times: Friday, May 14, at 7:30 PM and Saturday, May 15, at 3:00 PM, both at the Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh.
