In April, Mudcrutch, which features Tom Petty along with two Heartbreaker band members, will be hitting the road to support the first full length album ever for the group.

The band features Tom Petty along with Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell from the Heartbreakers as well as original Mudcrutch band members Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon. The outing will kick off in Malibu CA on April 12 as part of the benefit billing for a downtown Los Angeles homeless shelter called The Midnight Mission. Eleven dates, all in California, have been lined up by the band.

Starting on March 21 pre sale tickets will be made available to Highway Companion Cub members, the online fan club for Tom Petty. There is more information available on the club’s website.

Mudcrutch, after 30 years, is picking things up where they left off. In 1970 Tom Petty, along with the guitarist Tom Leadon established the new act after they left The Epics, another band. Campbell, guitarist, and Marsh, drummer, joined shortly thereafter. Tench, keyboardist, joined the group in 1973.

Singles were released by Mudcrutch in 1973 and 1975. However the group never did record a full album. According to the Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, last August Petty encouraged the group to reunite and go back to the recording studio.

Leadon, who is currently a guitar instructor in Nashville said, it was completely unexpected. The whole thing was like a dream. Tom was so nice about it and it was great getting to hang out again with him.

The self titled debut from the band contains 14 tracks and will be hitting stores on April 29th.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be joining John Mayer and The Dave Matthews Band as headliners for the Mile High Music Festivals’ first annual event on July 19-20 in Colorado. The two day festival will be taking place at Outer Fields in Dick’s Sporting Goods Park just outside of Denver.

Other artists that will be appearing at Mile High Music Festival include Colbie Caillat, Flogging Molly, Spoon, Steve Winwood, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Spearhead, Michael Franti, O.A.R. and the Black Crowes among other performers. Petty will be headlining the show on July 19 and the Dave Matthews band will be heading up the bill on July 20.

Nine Inch Nails, Jay-Z and Coldplay are three acts that have been tapped by Pemberton Festival organizers as headliners for the three day outdoor musical event to be held in Canada.

The festival will be held July 25-27 in a tiny village in British Columbia. A few miles south is Whistler, the more well known resort town of the Pacific Northwest. The impressive musical entertainment roster includes Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, My Morning Jacket, Serj Tankian, Interpol, Death Cab for Cutie, The Flaming Lips and many other acts.

The festival’s website contains the complete lineup.

According to the event’s organizers, it is expected that over 40,000 fans will be attending the festival.

Shane Bourbonnais from Live Nation Canada, promoter for the event, said in an interview with Vancouver Sun that the setting for the event is in a class of its own. No festival site I don’t think can come close to comparing to this. It’s at Mount Currie’s base and just 25 minutes away from Whistler, a world class resort.

On March 28 festival tickets will be going on sale. There are separate camping privilege and festival admission charges. Initially the three day standard event ticket will cost $239.50 CDN. Camping fees will be an additional $60 CDN.

Pemberton, in what has become more and more common for large scale music festivals held outdoors, will be emphasizing a theme that is environmentally conscious. The power grid for the event will be generated exclusively using hydroelectric sources. Car pooling will be rewarded by the festival. Free parking will be available for festival attendees arriving with at least four people in a vehicle.

Products from the local area will be sold across the event site of 360 acres. Also planned is a farmer’s market which will feature local meat and produce from Pemberton Valley farms.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers is going to make at least one additional live circuit round after all. The band has announced dates recently for a US summer major tour.

Last year, Petty said in an interview that the 2007 dates might be his last. The new tour will be kicking off in Grand Rapids, MI on May 30. Four partial months will be covered and extend through late August for a show outside of Houston.

Starting on January 30, pre-sales will be made available to Tom Petty fan club members. They will get first crack at the 1,500 premium seats from each show. Additional information is posted on Petty’s website.

On February 3, Tom Petty and crew will be providing the musical entertainment in Glendale, AZ at halftime for Super Bowl XLII. Last year they supported “Highway Companion” with a tour. It was Petty’s third solo release as well as his 18th career album overall. It debuted on Billboard’s 200 chart in the No. 4 spot, marking the highest ever debut on the chart for the songwriter/singer.

In addition to hosting “Tom Petty’s Hidden Treasures on XM Satellite Radio, Petty reformed Mudcrutch recently, the band from his pre-Heartbreakers days, along with original band mates Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon as well as Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench from the Heartbreakers. The five musicians recorded a new album. Later this year is when the new set is expected to be released to stores.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers over the last three decades has sold over 50 million records. Petty, between his solo efforts and working with his band, has received 18 Grammy nominations. In 2002 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were inducted into Rock and Roll’s Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Next February, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are going to be playing on America’s biggest stage. Organizers have announced the band will rock the February 3rd halftime show for Super Bowl XLII.

Musical performers traditionally covet the Super Bowl’s half time show. The game gives them a huge audience gain. The performance by Prince this year drew over 140 million viewers in the US.

Super Bowl halftime acts recently have included in 2006 The Rolling Stones, in 2005 Paul McCartney, and in 2004 Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson in the infamous wardrobe malfunction incident.

Fox will be televising the Super Bowl held in Glendale, AZ at University of Phoenix Stadium. The venue is also home for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL.

Bridgestone, the tire maker, will be the halftime show’s title sponsor for Petty’s performance in 2008 and for the 2009 Super Bowl as well. It will be for the first Super Bowl appearance for both Petty and Bridgestone.

Last year Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers supported “Highway Companion” with a tour. It was Petty’s third solo release as well as 18th album of his career overall. The set made its debut on Billboard’s 200 chart in the No. 4 spot. It was the highest chart debut ever for Petty. During the trek, Petty told Rolling Stone that it could be the last outing for him.

Petty has continued staying very busy. He hosts “Tom Petty’s Hidden Treasures” on XM Satellite Radio. Recently the show started its third season. Petty and band members also recently released “Goin Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino.” On the tribute CD they do a “I’m Walkin” rendition.

The Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers story will be told through a DVD/CD four disc collection. It is set to be released to stores next month and will be debuting in select cities on the big screen.

Retail outlets for Best Buy will be exclusively selling “Runnin’ Down A Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers” starting on October 16. On October 14, the film will be closing the New York Film Festival for 1007 at Walter Reade Theatre. It will then have an October 15 premier in 21 cities for one night only across the country. On October 29 Sundance Channel will be running the documentary commercial free.

Peter Bogdanovich directed “Runnin’ Down A Dream.” The film takes viewers from the humble beginnings of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in Gainesville, FL all the way to the 30th anniversary celebration of last year. In addition the solo career of Tom Petty is followed along with his time with Traveling Wilbury along with Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne Bob Dylan and George Harrison. According to a recent press release, in-depth interviews are featured in the film with Tom Petty, Heartbreaker band members as well as collaborators, friends and musicians.

Last year Petty was on tour in support of “Highway Companion,” the third solo release for him as well as his 18th career album overall. The set made its debut on Billboard’s 200 chart at No. 4. It was Petty’s highest debut on the chart ever. During the trek Petty reported to Rolling Stone that the outing could be the last one for him.

Petty stays as busy as always. He hosts “Tom Petty’s Hidden Treasures,” his show on XM Satellite Radio that recently started its third seasons. Recently Petty and company released “A Tribute to Fats Domino” a tribute CD where they perform a version of Domino’s “I”m Walkin.”

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers over the last three decades have sold over 50 million albums. Petty for his solo as well as band efforts has received 18 Grammy nominations. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in their first year of eligibility were Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees in 2002.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Raconteurs, Fiona Apple, The Black Crowes and Widespread Panic are some of the initial performers that have been announced for the second annual musical festival Vegoose to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Among the approximately two dozen acts so far on the rosters are Jurassic 5, Band of Horses, Built to Spill, Gomez, The Roots, Damian Marley, The Mars Volta, Guster and The Killers. According to the festival organizers more acts are going to be announced in upcoming weeks.

Tickets for the event of two days, scheduled for October 28th and 29th in Sam Boyd Stadium, will be going on sale starting August 19 from the website for Vegoose.

Coinciding with the festival itself, Vegoose at Night is also being coordinated by the organizers. It is a series of nighttime concerts not yet announced which will take place in Las Vegas venues October 27 through October 31.

A.C. Entertainment and Superfly Productions, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival creators, are also the producers of Vegoose.

In a statement, Superfly’s Rick Farman said, we are busy getting prepared to have another great party. Last year proved Halloween, Vegas and an incredible collection of bands playing in a beautiful setting was a magical combination.