Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have been a musical superpower for six or seven times the average band’s lifespan—and they’re still making good music. Just check out Highway Companion, Petty’s third and latest solo release, considered by many to be among his best works to date. And the Highway Companion tour, which doubles as a celebration of the band’s 30th anniversary, has been collecting raves. It is good to be king. Another example of how powerful Petty and band are: Little-known acts like Pearl Jam, the Strokes, John Mayer and Trey Anastasio have all signed on to open various tour dates; for the current leg, the Allman Brothers Band—soon to celebrate their 40th anniversary—will do the honors. The Derek Trucks Band are also on the bill. Should be a long one.

And one more thing: The Petty people are promising a special appearance by Stevie Nicks, which means you’ll get to hear “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” Rad.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, along with the Allman Brothers Band and the Derek Trucks Band, will perform at Saratoga Performing Arts Center this Sunday (Aug. 13) at 6 PM. If inside seats are indeed still available when you read this, tickets are $75; lawn tickets are $32.50. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 584-9330.

Ring Round the Moon

French dramatist Jean Anouilh took a turn into romantic comedy with his 1947 play Ring Round the Moon, presented in a translation by Christopher Fry beginning tonight (Thursday) by the Barrington Stage Company.

The story presents the classic good brother-bad brother dichotomy: Hugo the devious battles Frederic the clueless for affection (and fortune) of a beautiful heiress. Or, as the folks at Barrington Stage Company assert: “Passionate tangos, a series of quick entrances and exits, a cat fight between rival beauties—these are just some of the highlights” of this quintessential French farce.

Barrington Stage Company will present Ring Round the Moon beginning tonight (Thursday, Aug. 10) at 8 PM at Barrington Stage Theatre (30 Union St., Pittsfield, Mass.). The show continues through Aug. 27. Tickets are $15. For reservations and info, call (413) 236-8888.

Franz Liszt and His World

The overall theme of this year’s Bard Summerscape—Franz Liszt and His World—comes to its crowning series of events this weekend and next with the Bard Music Festival.

Liszt is the 19th-century composer described by the folks at Bard as “central” to the romantic movement in music. Partly this is because he was the most successful, best-known pianist of his day; partly this is owing to his prolific works, most notably those in which he took the folk music of Southeast Europe and turned it into popular melodies. He knew everyone, too, from Berlioz and Wagner to Mendelssohn and Schumann. Mainly, however, this is because his lush, dramatic piano works are still popular and influential—especially with pianists. (Murray Perahia once suggested that pianists should master works by romantic virtuoso composers like Liszt, because of the insight they provide in approaching the works of earlier, baroque and classical composers like Bach and Mozart.)

There are concerts tomorrow night (Friday), and all day Saturday and Sunday. Visit summerscape.bard.edu for complete details.

The Bard Music Festival presents Franz Liszt and His World beginning tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 11) through Sunday (Aug. 13), and continuing the following weekend, Aug. 18-20. All performances are in the Sosnoff Theater (Richard B. Fisher Center) and Olin Hall on the campus of Bard College (Annandale-on- Hudson). For reservations and information, call (845) 758-7900.