Mark Ingram's introduction to the entertainment industry came at early age of six, when he hosted a variety show for kids and parents in his neighbourhood.

"I had the nerve to charge admission, a whopping 10 cents, I think," recalled the 43-year-old Kitsilano resident.

Well, he's bringing his expertise, not only as an event organizer, but as a musician and singer, to the stage of Cascades Casino Summit Theatre in Langley next Friday night.

No, he's not hosting a variety show.

Ingram, and his band called Runnin' Down A Dream, will be performing a tribute concert to Tom Petty.

"Tom's first album came out when I was 10. My brother turned me on to him, and I've enjoyed following the twists and turns of Tom's career ever since," Ingram told the Langley Advance.

"I've seen Tom many times, most recently at the Gorge, the Pemberton Festival, and three weeks later at the Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park - it was awesome..." he said.

"I felt that artists like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash got their due as songwriters, and with good reason. It was time to do my part to expose Tom's music to new and unfamiliar audiences," Ingram added, explaining that Runnin' Down A Dream started performing together last year - specifically as a tribute band.

"I was no longer content with just being a fan of music. With no wife or kids, there was never going to be a less busy time in my life and it was time to put up or shut up. Years earlier I went to Vancouver Community College and Capilano College (now university) for music and although I sang in jazz choirs and the Vancouver Bach Choir, I never pursued why I went there in the first place, which was to sing, write, record and tour with a rock band," Ingram recounted.

"I ended up doing a world tour, but that was as a freelance IT trainer."

His relatively new band features Ingram as lead singer, and also includes Guenter Schulz (of Slick Idiot) on lead guitar, Andrew Mitton on rhythm guitar, Geoffrey Colpitts on keys and background vocals, Dino DiNicolo on bass guitar and backup vocals, and Adam Jinks banging the skins (drums).

In addition to the Petty classic hits like Free Fallin' and Breakdown, Runnin' will play some of Petty's music that he will never play again live.

By definition, a Tom Petty tribute band is limiting, so Ingram has also started another band with Schulz, aptly named Ingram Schulz, which also features Jinks.

"It's dedicated to keeping alive the music of guitar greats like Hendrix, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Black Crowes, etc. That band will be the vehicle for introducing new music. We plan to record at Mushroom Studios in the fall," Ingram said.

Future plans include touring North America with both bands (separately) starting with the Pacific Northwest and "expanding from there," Ingram said.

For now, members of Runnin' Down A Dream are gearing up for their show at Cascades on Friday, Aug. 27. Doors opening at 7 p.m. with the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $24.50, and available from the casino guest services or www.ticketweb.ca.