Peter Baxter

Peter Baxter, a singer-songwriter who mixes Americana, Folk, Country and Rock influences, was born in Ireland, raised in Australia, and is now based on the East Coast of Ireland. Over the years, he has released three albums and toured with iconic artists like Archie Roach and Ben E. King, performing across Europe and Australia. His latest EP, The Dark Familiar, features collaborations with musicians from around the world, including Australia, the UAE, and the UK. The title comes from a book by Irish writer Dermot Healy, which Peter discovered through his album producer, Dave Steel. "It really resonated with this collection of songs," Peter explains.

The first single, Where Do I Begin?, combines Celtic rock with widescreen alt-country, featuring atmospheric keyboards and edgy guitars. It premiered on Stuart Coupe's Dirt Music radio show, followed by Peter's rendition of Hickory Wind, a classic co-written by Gram Parsons. The single received airplay on ABC Country, Double J, and Australian community radio, and was featured in Rhythms magazine's Sep/Oct sampler.

The EP also includes A Thousand Dreams, a re-recording of a song from Peter's 1997 album The Miracle Bell, now featuring Leslie Dowdall of Irish band In Tua Nua. The closing track, Running To The Ruin (The Devil’s Song), showcases strummed acoustic guitar and soulful trumpet from Gary Alesbrook. "It's a song that admits how we sometimes make the wrong decisions," Peter reveals.