Peter & The Rowers (Veslari)

The Kosice-based band, VESLARI (The Rowers), was formed in 1971, and is the oldest country band in Slovakia. During this time more than 60 musicians have played with the group, contributing to the band’s long development process. Over those years, the band’s music genre has also evolved: from Tramp, to Bluegrass, then Folk, until today’s modern Country & Western style.
In between of the 70’s and 80‘s, the band VESLARI recorded roughly 100 songs for Czechoslovakian radio and TV, and its music aired regularly through that time period.
The band participated in the production of the first two country music compilations in Slovakia, "Ked svitne rano" and "Country trh No.1", where a number of its songs were recorded."
During the 80’s, the band played in various entertainment shows with significant actors and celebrities like M. Labuda, J. Strazan, J. Cejka, and D. Stachytka. Yet, their most successful performance was their featuring with popular actors from Prague, Helena Ruzickova and her son Jirka in the show DUO KIX, which replayed more than 200 times in theatres and concert halls all across the country.
At the beginning of the 90’s, VESLARI became a member of the Slovak Association of Country Music, and performed at all of the country’s festivals. In 1994,1995 and 2005 the band was honored as the “Country Band of the Year” from SAHC (Slovak Association of Country Music).

VESLARI also participated in the creation of the mega event, MURAN RODEO (one of the biggest rodeo shows in Slovakia), providing its music and sound production.
In 1993 the band recorded their 1st album, “Country Rodeo”, which was immediately sold out in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The album was very successful , and was regularly broadcasted over the airwaves. Soon after, their CD “Stratena rieka” (Greatest hits 1975-1995) was released, which also became very popular.

VESLARI perform every year at major music festivals both at home and abroad. They also are a regular and welcome attendant at country balls, rodeos and other similar events.

Since the beginning of 2004, VESLARI is in a new arrangement, with the new, young talent, Peter Dula, as lead singer. The band’s remaining talents are: on fiddle, steel guitar and mandolin, multitalented musician František Jano; lead guitar and banjo, Peter Henriczy (SAHC instrumentalist of the year 1993, 1994); on bass and dobro Slavo Mlynarcik and Luboslav Kriss on drums
Subsequently, the band has gained even greater notoriety, performed at many festivals both at home and abroad, amazing its audiences and organizers alike. In the summer of 2005 Veslari won the prize for the best band at the most prestigious country festival in Czech republic STODOLA MICHALA TUCNEHO and a week later they competed at the biggest Country and Folk festival in Slovakia COUNTRY LODENICA and ended up in the first place.
Veslari are one of the top bands playing modern country music in Czech and Slovak republic right now and they prove it with their latest release Ja Pojdem Sam (I'm Leavin')