Two nights of historic ’70s and ’80s rock tributes at the Athens Theatre

Tom Petty’s trailblazing 40-year musical career, as celebrated by the nationally known tribute band The Petty Hearts, will be “Free Fallin’” for audiences at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 24, at the historic Athens Theatre in DeLand.

Get your favorite seats now to sing along to “American Girl,” “Don’t Do Me Like That” and loads of others as you remember why the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame includes Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who epitomize heartland rock and Southern rock of the 1970s and 1980s.

At 7:30 p.m. the next evening, Saturday, June 25, the Athens stage will feature a doubleheader tribute to two great arena-rock bands, Boston and Styx.

The Boston tribute (appropriately calling themselves Smokin’) emulates the band’s blended, “violin-like” harmonies that have kept audiences humming them for decades, and features hits as “More Than a Feeling” (note the great guitar riff), “Long Time” (with crystal-clear solos), “Don’t Look Back” and, of course, “Amanda.”

Changing their avatar from Smokin’ to Renegade, the same highly accomplished musicians shift focus to the sophisticated musicality and straightforward melodies of Styx. These include the throbbing melody of songs like “Lady,” fiery guitar solos as featured on “Renegade,” and unforgettable lyricism such as heard in “Come Sail Away.”

If you’re a ’70s and ’80s classic-rock fan, you won’t want to miss these incredible concerts.

These performances are at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Athens Theatre, at 124 N. Florida Ave. in Downtown DeLand.

Tickets cost $35 for preferred reserved seating (first six rows orchestra and two rows center balcony) and $30 for general reserved seating. A $3-per-ticket processing charge and 6.5-percent sales tax will be added to each purchase.

All tickets are available online at the Athens Theatre website (www.AthensDeLand.com) or by calling the box office at 386-736-1500. Box-office hours are 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 1 1/2 hours before live performances.