The Kosice-based band, THE ROWERS (Veslari), 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 Folk music to Bluegrass until today’s modern Country & Western style.



In between of the 70’s and 80‘s, the band The Rowers 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 european 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 (Czech Republic), 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, The Rowers became members of the Slovak Association of Country Music and performed at all of the country's festivals and venues. They have been selected "Best Country Band" by the SCMA (Slovak Country music Association) and won numerous awards.

VESLARI also participated in the creation of the mega event, MURAN RODEO (the biggest rodeo show 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 Republics. 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.



In the beginning of 2004, PETER DULA , a very talented young singer and songwriter joined the band as the lead vocalist. The band began performing as "PETER & THE ROWERS "
Subsequently, the band gained even greater notoriety, performed at many festivals, fairs, rodeos, concerts and top venues throughout Europe, amazing it's audiences and organizers alike. In the summer of 2005 Peter & The Rowers won a prize for the best band at the biggest country festival in central Europe "STODOLA MICHALA TUCNEHO" in the Czech Republic and a week later they competed at the biggest Country and Folk festival in Slovakia "COUNTRY LODENICA" and came in the first place.

PETER & THE ROWERS (VESLARI) are the top band playing modern country music in Europe and they proved it with another smash hit album "Ja Pojdem Sam". They received the prestigious "AUREL ACADEMY AWARD" (the Slovak version of Grammy) for the best country album in Slovakia for 2006. Aurel is the most prestigious award for music and it is the highest honor bestowed on an artist in Slovakia.
The song "Blind Horses" from this CD went to no.3 on "Worldwide Country Chart" in July 2006 and in January 2007 it went all the way to no.1 on prestigious "ECMA TOP 100 CHART" (European CMA Country Radio Airplay chart).
The next single, "I'm Leavin'" made history when the song went straight to no.1 and stayed at the top for consecutive 14 weeks.

"I'm Leavin'" was also featured on a Universal Music compilation CD, which was released in Europe to promote new music by Peter & The Rowers and fellow stars Vince Gill, Mark Chesnutt, Dolly Parton and others .

Peter & The Rowers successfully toured France, the UK, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic in 2007.

In late 2007 the band performed in Nashville, TN, where they started co-operating with top songwriters and artists on their new album, which is being finished in a top studio in Bardejov, Slovakia.

The upcoming Peter & The Rowers album will feature the total of three duets with special star guests. One of them is the honky tonk legend Joe Diffie , who is going to help out Peter Dula with the original "Long Gone Loner". Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Billy Yates, will also lend his vocals to the project. The list of star guests concludes with the best Czech country artist Petr Kocman, who will collaborate with Peter on "Lonesome Ride". The long-anticipated album "Honky Tonk Dream" is coming out this year.

To celebrate all the success, Europan Country Music Association recognized Peter & The Rowers with nominations for their annual awards show. Peter & The Rowers are leading the list of nominees, earning the total of 8 nods. Not only are they leading the nominations, but in two categories their songs "Blind Horses" and "I'm Leavin'" will even compete against each other, since both songs are nominated for "Song of the Year" and " European Song of the Year". Peter & The Rowers also run for "Artist of the Year", "Band of the Year", "European Country Music Artist of the Year" and "ECMA Future Star Award". The list of nominees features also Keith Urban, George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Mark Chesnutt and Sheryl Crow.
The winners will be announced in Palafrugell, Spain in late July 2008.