Multiple GRAMMY nominated, Dove awards winning Peter Furler returned to Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, where he originally formed newsboys, and performed his first solo concert April 23 for approximately 20,000 excited fans at Easterfest. Debuting new music from his first solo album, on fire, which releases June 21 on Sparrow Records, Furler opened with “All In Your Head,” as well as played the current hit single, “Reach,” which is available now on iTunes.
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Peter Furler is pictured at Easterfest in Australia. |
As a featured headliner, Furler was joined onstage for the first time by his wife, Summer, playing keyboards. No stranger to touring, Summer received a roar of approval from the crowd as Peter introduced “the love of his life.” Having attended hundreds of newsboys concerts over the years, Summer is the daughter of legendary Christian artist Mylon LeFevre and granddaughter of gospel music legend, Eva Mae LeFevre.
Also joining Furler onstage was former newsboys guitarist, Paul Coleman, and Me In Motion’s Seth Moseley. Remarkably, as reported by Pollstar Magazine, shortly following Furler’s well-received set, festival goers were evacuated due to a major downpour of rain that collapsed one of three main tents. Fortunately, no one was injured.
With “Songwriter of the Year” nods and musical talent that has driven the sales of five RIAA Certified Gold records, over seven million albums sold and 25 No. 1 songs, Peter Furler ended his long tenure in 2009 as the lead singer of newsboys. After amicably leading newsboys through its transition to the current lineup, Furler stepped away from non-stop touring, sold much of what he owned – cars, home, his shares in Inpop Records, a label he’d co-founded in 1999 that launched the careers of such notables as Newworldson, Mat Kearney and Shane & Shane, among others, etc. – moved to the Gulf of Florida and took time to reflect, express himself through visual art, surf and play music just for pure enjoyment.
Although initially not planning to release any of the new music created during this time, the result of this redefining period led to the most joyful and uplifting music of Furler’s career. Furler’s music has always been about making a difference and leaving the listener encouraged, and with these new songs comes a sense of confidence like he has never experience before as a singer. Like music fans in Australia, fans in North America are catching a glimpse of the rejuvenated Furler as his first radio single from on fire, “Reach,” is already a Billboard hit single that continues to gain momentum at radio.
“We all need to be reminded that God is personal,” Furler says as “Reach” struck a very personal chord with him. “The One who created the heaven, the One who is everywhere and all knowing yearns deeply for us… He cares for us individually, where we are.”
Writing, producing, recording and singing such international classics as “He Reigns,” “Shine,” “Something Beautiful” and “It is You,” Furler is one of Australia’s biggest exports of any musical genre. With a raw honesty and ability to turn a rock show into a deep worship experience, Furler is a favorite on the touring circuit. He has collectively performed to over 15,000 Muslims in Morocco, for the Pope during World Youth Day, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, at a 9/11 service for U.S. military leaders at the Pentagon, at a New Age festival on the shores of Galilee in Israel, and rocked the punters at an outback pub in Australia.
As one of the most successful, award-winning artists today continues his musical journey, more information on the new album and upcoming tour plans will be revealed soon. For all the latest activity, see http://peterfurler.com, www.facebook.com/peterfurlerofficial.
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