Pete Ross scheduled for the Echo March 25

Published 8:30 am Sunday, March 14, 2010

    Australian born singer/songwriter Pete Ross set foot on American soil this month for his first U.S. tour, which includes a stop at the Echo Lounge, 2104 C St., at 9 p.m. Thursday, March 25.

    Call him a troubadour, soul-searcher or a journeyman, but there’s no denying that Ross is living the dream of touring the world and playing his music. Since packing his guitar and relocating to Europe in 2008, the former guitarist from highly popular country alt-rockers, Dan Brodie & The Broken Arrows, has been touring extensively across the globe.

    It seems Ross has inherited his wandering spirit from his Italian born father, Peter Ciani. An iconic 1950s pop star, Ciani emigrated to Australia in 1963 and made history when he released his first Australian disc, sung in Italian and exported worldwide through EMI records. Now mirroring his father’s footsteps, Ross has completed the pasage back to Italy and in 2009 released his debut album, Six String Suicide, through Halidon Music.

    Ross’ songwriting has a brooding contemplative tone, which combines powerful storytelling and dark rich vocals, encased in an extraordinarily well-produced folk/country/rock styling. The inspiration to record Six String Suicide (released in Australia through MGM) and later relocate to Italy first came in 2005 when Ross spent three months in Sicily discovering his roots, to which he pays respect by recording the traditional Sicilian folk song Sciuri Sciuri. The album includes versions of Bob Dylan’s “Man In The Long Black Coat” and Lee Hazlewood’s “Forget Marie” as well as a collaboration with his father on the track “A Thousand Miles Away.”

    In 2008 at the Tamworth Country Music Festival (Australia), Ross was one of two finalists nominated for the Aristocrat Country Entertainer of the Year, as well as a finalist at the 42nd annual CCMA song-writing awards. In 2009 he made 3 appearances on Italy’s RAI TV (International) and was awarded runner-up for album of the year on Byron Bay’s Bay Fm Radio.

    Whether on stage with his Paesanos or just as one man with one guitar, Pete Ross consistently delivers a strong performance, winning new fans wherever he plays. He will make his debut performance in July this year at Mirande, France’s largest country music festival, which will coincide with the release of a new album recorded on French label, Beast Records.

Reviews

    • “Troubadour songwriting and a seemingly effortless combining of European, country, folk and roots influences, this promises to be a contender for debut album of the year.”  (Inpress)

    • “Six String Suicide is a manicured collection of blues, rock, country and narrative that in chorus is connected by honest soul and emotion.”   (Seed Magazine)