Tom Petty (center) and the Heartbreakers. Photo by Aaron Rapoport

It’s been just over seven years since Tom Petty died at the age of 66.

His legacy as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and a solo artist, was solidified decades ago with countless hit songs and albums.

Fans can delve into the Petty’s past by heading to The Nickelodeon in Portland this week.

For the first time ever, the documentary “Heartbreakers Beach Party” is being shown in theaters.

The screenings are on Thursday and Sunday, the latter date falling on what would have been Petty’s 74th birthday.

The 1983 film, directed by Oscar-winning director Cameron Crowe, aired just once on MTV. A new introduction from Crowe has been added, along with 20 minutes of unreleased outtakes.

“Heartbreakers Beach Party” is a riveting watch because it’s packed with interviews, including a 25-year-old Crowe riding around Los Angeles and chatting with Petty, who was 32 at the time. There’s also a bunch of live performances including “Refugee,” “Breakdown,” “Change of Heart” and “Straight Into Darkness.”

The film gives a rare look into backstage and tour bus antics and tells the story of how Petty, upon meeting Elvis Presley as a teenager, knew his only career choice was to be a musician.

“I never could think of doing anything else. There was no control, there was no way to quit, no way to walk away from it, just to hope for the best from it, hope that it takes care of me,” Petty says during the film.

One local DJ is sure glad Petty stuck with his calling.

Poster for Heartbreakers Beach Party. Image courtesy of Trafalgar Releasing

“A Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song is like a cold beer after moving the lawn,” said Celeste Baranyi.

Baranyi has been a morning show host at classic rock radio station WBLM for 35 years and said the requests for Petty have never slowed down. “I feel like every time we play a song, we’re bringing back not just the memory that the listener has from their life, but also a memory of Tom Petty.”

When asked why Petty’s songs have such staying power, Baranyi hit the nail on the head.

“I just think they’re very relatable, really passionate and have a lot of momentum to them.”

The songs also elicit another response.

“You hook onto the lyrics, and you want to sing along with it,” said Baranyi.

‘Heartbreakers Beach Party’
7 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m. Sunday. Nickelodeon Cinemas, 1 Temple St., Portland, $15.  tompettyfilm.com/tickets

The 1776 Baroque violin owned and played by Anna Pearlman. Photo by Anna Pearlman

GOING FOR BAROQUE

North Star Baroque presents its debut performance at Hannaford Hall in Portland on Friday.

The newly formed period instrument orchestra is led by musical director Anna Pearlman of Gorham and was named after the North Star featured in the Maine flag.

The show features special guest Boston Baroque violinist Christina Day Martinson. She’ll be joining 10 other North Star Baroque musicians on violin, viola, cello, double bass and harpsichord in playing Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” published in 1725.

“The Four Seasons” comprises four concertos, each with three parts. These are some of most widely-known classical music compositions in the world.

Pearlman – whose father is Martin Pearlman, founder of the 50-year-old Boston Baroque – has been immersed in the world of classical music her entire life.

She got her first violin when she was 6 years old, after begging her parents for one for two years before that.

“The Four Seasons” was essentially one of the soundtracks of Pearlman’s youth.

“It’s just one of those pieces that I would put on when I was playing, so it has special meaning to me, and I’ve always been fascinated with the composer,” Pearlman said.

Pearlman plays a Baroque violin that dates back to 1776. She said that one of the main differences between her violin and a modern one is that the strings are made out of animal guts. “That gives it more of a transparent and clear sound.” The bow is also shaped differently, and the violin doesn’t have a chin rest. She also said that the early cello, which is played by a fellow musician, doesn’t have an end pin and must be held between its player’s legs.

“The reason we are playing all of these instruments is because it’s what the composers heard in their time; they’re the instruments the composers wrote the music for,” said Pearlman.

You can hear for yourself what early classical music instruments sound like on Friday.

Tickets for the performance on the campus of the University of Southern Maine are $35. The show starts at 7 p.m. Get them at porttix.com.