About Gene

Gene Peterson has fast establishing himself as one of Australia’s leading musicians. He is a phenomenal drummer, an exceptional pianist and a prolific composer and producer.

After winning both the ‘Australia’s Up and Coming Drummer of the Year’ competition and ‘The Billy Hydes National Drum Play-Offs’ in 2006, Gene was invited to be the opening act at the prestigious ‘Australia’s Ultimate Drummers Weekend’, where he launched his live DVD.

Since then, Gene has established himself as a professional touring artist, having played right across Australia, as well as internationally through Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and has performed at festivals such as the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, the Singapore Arts Festival, the Holland Dance Festival, the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Brisbane Festival, and the Sydney Royal Easter Show (to name just a few).

Now an accomplished producer, Gene tours his productions regularly, where he features as a soloist and entertainer, alongside word class special guests. His first production 'Gene Peterson Live' has just completed a 2 month national tour, and his latest show 'Loop the Loop' has just confirmed a 50 show national tour, with 2 additional tours currently in the pipeline for 2011!

In addition to producing his own shows, Gene works regularly with a number of other companies and artists. He has performed extensively with internationally acclaimed Raw Dance Company (as musical director, percussionist, keyboardist and composer), worked with production house Strut'n'Fret, and has also featured as a special guest with New Zealand percussion ensemble STRIKE. As a session musician Gene was selected to perform with Australian pop artist Cassie Davis, featuring on nationally televised performances on 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'The Astra Awards', and also works frequently with Yamaha Drums Australia, to promote their products.

He is sponsored by Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vater Sticks & Remo Skins and has been featured in numerous issues of ‘Drumscene’ magazine.

To find out more about Gene's achievements, please click through the tabs below:

Producer
Drummer
Pianist
Composer
Session Musician
Clinician

Gene is quickly cementing his reputation as on of Australia's most successful producers.

As a seasoned performing artist, Gene is able to draw from his experience on-stage, to create fresh, exciting work that astounds audiences of all ages, and always leaves them wanting more.

His first production 'Gene Peterson Live', has recently completed a 2 month national tour, and his latest work 'Loop the Loop' has already been scheduled for over 60 performances in 2011, with touring from March till November.

To see promo clips for either of Gene's productions, please see the video's 1 & 2 from the video player above. (To select different videos, please click the PLAY button and then hover your mouse across the bottom of the video player)

Gene’s solo drumming accomplishments include:

Feature artist at the Palmer St Jazz Festival, 2008
Performing and producing his own live show “Gene Peterson Live” 2007
Being the opening act for Australia’s Ultimate Drummers Weekend, 2007
Feature articles in Drumscene magazine - issues #47, #49 and #50, 2006/2007
Winning the Billy Hydes National Drum Play-offs 2006
Winning Australia’s Best up and Coming Drummer of the Year Competition 2006
Solo performance, aired on MTV, 2006
Opening Act for the Dolphin Awards, 2005

Gene’s ensemble achievements include:

Thredbo Jazz Festival, with the Marc Mittag Trio, 2011
National tour of Raw Dance Company’s ‘Bang! Crash! Tap!’2009
Europe & Asia tour in Raw Dance Company’s ‘Project X’ 2009
New Zealand touring with ‘Strike Percussion’ 2009
Drumming for Cassie Davis at the Astra Awards 2009
Nationally televised performance with Cassie Davis on ‘So You Think You Can Dance 2009
Drumming in Raw Dance Company's “Electronique” 2008
Drumming for 'Polytoxic' 2008
Extensive touring as percussionist for Raw Dance Company’s “Urban Wonderland” 2006
Percussionist for events managing company “Strut and Fret”
Drumming for soul band “Soul’d” 2006
Drumming in Rock/Funk outfit “Cruel to be Kind” 2005/2006
Drummer in Latin Band “Candela Latina”, 2004
Performing in Byron Bay Theatre Company’s “A Carmen”, 2003
Performing at the Sydney Opera House in “Encore”, 2002
Byron Bay Millennium New Year’s Eve
Performing at 2000 Pan Pacific School Games Opening Ceremony

Gene has performed professionally as a Cocktail Pianist since he was 16, and more recently he was the musical director and keyboardist in the live band for Raw Dance Company’s “Project-X”, which has toured to:

Holland (9 shows) 2009
Singapore (2 shows) 2009
Wollongong (10 shows) 2009
Singapore (9 shows) 2007
Holland (10 shows) 2007
Sydney (6 shows) 2007
Adelaide, Australia (10 shows) 2007
Brisbane, Australia (12 shows) 2006

Gene began composing at the age of 5. By the time he was 8, Gene had had 60 of his pieces professionally recorded and at age 14, Gene had his work performed by Darwin Symphony Orchestra. To date, his composing achievements include:

Composer for Raw Dance Company's "Electronique" 2008
Composer for Raw Dance Company’s "Project-X" 2006
Winner of Lismore Conservatorium Film Score competition 2005
"Raindance" performed by Darwin Symphony Orchestra 2004
Commission for Darwin School of Music’s A Capella choir 2004
Co-composer for Byron Bay theatre Company’s "A Carmen"2003
Composer for 2 dances in the production "Inspirations" 2003

Pictured on right, Gene can be seen with renowned Australian composers Peter Sculthorpe and Anne Boyd.

Gene has established himself as a sought after session musician, as he is comfortable in all styles of music, and is a fluent reader. He had his first session gig at age 14, and has been in demand as both a drummer and keyboardist ever since.

Gene has recorded at:

Studios 301
Meridian Recording Studio
Top Cat Recording Studio
Bushtraks Recording Studio
Beesneez Recording Studio
Born Fresh Records

He has performed as a live session musician with:

Australian pop-star Cassie Davis
Raw Dance Company
Percussion ensemble ‘Strike’
Marc Mittag

To watch a video of Gene playing live with Cassie Davis at the Astra Awards 2009, please select the third video in the youtube player above. (To select different videos, please click the PLAY button below and then hover your mouse across the bottom of the video player)

Gene conducts clinics and workshops in Drumming (Drum Kit), Composition, Body Percussion, and ‘Junk’ Drumming. Gene has worked with students of all ages/abilities, ranging from primary school workshops, right through to advanced musician clinics. To date Gene’s workshop/clinic history includes:

Loop the Loop touring - Junk Percussion and 'Found Sound' workshops at each venue/school, 2011
'Gene Peterson Live' national tour - Body Percussion workshops at each venue, 2010
'Bang! Crash! Tap!' 5 week Queensland and NSW tour - Body Percussion - 2009
Drummers Warehouse & Yamaha Drum Clinic, Brisbane - 2009
'Raw Metal' 6 week Queensland tour - Body Percussion - 2008
Planet Music Drum Clinic, Lismore - 2008
QPAC Workshop tour through Queensland Primary Schools - Composition - 2008
Combined North Coast NSW Highschools 'Drum and Percussion Day'- 2007

Upcoming Shows

Feb 9, 2011 - Bundaberg, QLD
(Gene Peterson Live corporate gig)

Loop the Loop:

March 22, 2011 - Port Macquarie (school show)

March 23, 2011 - Coffs Harbour (school show)

March 25, 2011 - Wickepin, WA

March 27, 2011 - Hopetoun, WA

March 30, 2011 - Kalgoorlie, WA

April 1, 2011 - Merredin, WA

April 2, 2011 - Perenjori, WA

April 8, 2011 - Maleny, QLD

April 15th - 17th, 2011 - Thredbo Jazz & Groove Festival
(Marc Mittag Trio)

'LOOP THE LOOP' LAYING AUSTRALIA NATIONAL TOUR:

MIldura Arts Centre,
Mildura Woolshed
Thu 19th May 7.30pm
03 5018 8330

Eastbank Centre, Shepparton
Tue 24th May 8pm
03 5832 9511
www.riverlinksvenues.com.au

Colac Otway Performing Arts and Cultural Centre
Thu May 26th 1.30pm
Fri May 27th 7.30pm
03 5232 2077
www.copacc.com.au

Anderson Theatre, Brauer College – Warrnambool
Sat 28th May 7.30pm
03 555 94 999
www.entertainmentcentre.com.au

The Arts Centre – Melbourne
Tue 31st May – Fri 3rd June 10am & 1pm
1300 182 183
www.theartscentre.com.au/whatson

Portland Arts Centre
Mon 6th June 7.30pm
03 5522 2263
www.arts.glenelg.vic.gov.au

Burnie Arts & Function Centre
Fri 10th June 11am
Sat 11th June 7.30pm
03 6430 5850
www.burniearts.net

Golden Grove Arts Centre
Wed 15th June 7.30pm
Thu 16th June 1.30pm
08 8397 7429
www.teatreegully.sa.gov.au

Barossa Arts and Convention Centre
Sat 18th June 7.30pm
08 8561 4299
www.barossaconvention.com

Esperance Civic Centre
Wed 22nd June 7.00pm
08 9083 1566
www.esperanceciviccentre.com

Albany Entertainment Centre
Wed 24th June 8pm
08 9844 5005
www.albanyentertainment.com.au

Margaret River Cultural Centre
Tue 28th June 8pm
08 9758 7316
www.artsmargaretriver.com

Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
Thu 30th June 8pm
1300 661 272
www.bunburyentertainment.com

Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Fri 1st July 7.30pm
08 9550 3900
www.manpac.com.au

Queens Park Theatre - Geraldton
Tue 5th July 8pm
08 9956 6662
www.queensparktheatre.com.au

Carnarvon Civic Centre
Thu 7th July time 7pm
(08) 9941 4200

Walkington Amphitheatre – Karratha
Sat 9th July 6.30pm
08 9159 6860
www.pilbaratafe.wa.edu.au/walkington

Roebuck Bay Hotel – Broome
Tue 12th July 8pm
08 9192 2222
www.kpac.org.au

Darwin Entertainment Centre
Sat 16th July 8pm
08 8980 3333
www.darwinenetratainment.com.au

Mount Isa Civic Centre
Sat 23rd July 7.30pm
07 4747 3300

Riverway Arts Centre – Townsville
Tue 26th July 7.30pm
07 4727 9797
www.ticketshop.com.au

Gladstone Entertainment Centre
Thu 28th July 7pm
07 4972 2822
www.gladstonerc.qld.gov.au/gec

The Arts Centre, Gold Coast
Sat 30th July 7.30pm
07 55 88 4000
www.theartscentregc.com.au

Jetty Memorial Theatre – Coffs Harbour
Tue 2nd Aug 8pm
02 6652 8088
www.jettytheatre.com.au

Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
Thu 4th Aug 7pm
02 9824 1121
www.casulapowerhouse.com

Shoalhaven Enetertainment Centre
Fri 5th Aug 8pm
1300 788 503
www.shoalhavenentertainment.com.au

August 19th - 20th, 2011 - Darwin Festival, NT
(Raw Dance Company's 'Bang Crash Tap)

COUNTRY ARTS WA, COCO ISLAND & CHRISTMAS ISLAND TOUR

September 23rd - October 7th

ARTOUR QLD TOUR

October 24th - November 13th