Great Wide Open – Tom Petty Birthday Party — Great Wide Open celebrates Tom Petty’s birthday with a special tribute show and party at Buffalo Iron Works on Saturday, October 17th! Great Wide Open Great Wide Open brings together five seasoned Buffalo-area musicians whose combined experience spans decades of live performance, recording, and countless local stages. Mark Slimko, on lead vocals and guitar, began playing at age eight and has performed with numerous Western New York bands, while his lifelong passion for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers makes him a natural fit for the band’s sound. Lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jeff Kocher began his musical journey at seven and has spent decades developing a powerful guitar style influenced by artists such as Randy Rhoads, George Lynch, Paul Gilbert, and of course Mike Campbell. Bassist
