Peter McWhirter is ready to bring his fresh, exciting take on contemporary country music to Australia and the world, following his massive win at the 2009 Telstra Road to Tamworth and performance at the CMC Rocks the Snowys 2009 Festival.

The 19-year old is a born performer and songwriter, since discovering bands such as Eagles, Crowded House, Foo Fighters and Cold Chisel at a young age, inspiring to take up the guitar and try his hand at songwriting, a talent that has seen him produced numerous original songs including the two which he performed at the TRTT Grand Final – Chasing Girls, inspired by his first trip to Tamworth the year before, and the light-hearted Not Gonna Happen. McWhirter has also won numerous performing and songwriting awards, including the 2006 National Songwriting Competition.

Peter’s career as a musician has seen him perform on the same bill as legends like Sir Elton John and rock and pop favourites such as Chris Isaak, Thirsty Merc and Matchbox 20 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. He has played on the Australia Day celebrations at Sydney Olympic Park, the Tony Martin Rock’n’Roll Harbour Cruise, the 2006 Australian Schools Spectacular, the Kerri Anne Show on Channel Nine and live on radio stations including C91.3, 2MCR, 2GB and 2UE.

In 2007, Peter was one of 9 graduates selected in NSW schools for the Department of Education’s presitigous ‘Talent Development Project’. Peter’s introduction to country music came from a former duet partner, and he soon grew to love and appreciate country artists from Hank Williams to Toby Keith to fellow Aussie Keith Urban. It was this love for country music that led Peter to enter the 2009 Telstra Road to Tamworth competition, resulting in him taking out the major prize at the huge Grand Final at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre in January. Since then, Peter has performed on the CMC Rocks the Snowys Festival, alongside Taylor Swift, Ian Moss and The Waifs and at the Riverfront Stage of the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. His debut album ‘Lucky As A Seven’, recorded in Nashville with acclaimed producer Mark Moffatt (Tim Finn), will be released in 2010, with single ‘Humm’ available now! The video for 'Humm' is currently number one on the CMC Top 30 chart!