SGT PETTER - alias Petter Folkedal - is a brilliant singer/songwriter from the vital music scene in Bergen, Norway who operates in the area of prairie-pop and alt.country.
With a distinctive voice and a head full of inventive urban country songs, Sgt Petter is one of the most interesting new acts in Norway at the moment.
In March 2002, Sgt Petter beat 500 competing acts and topped the listeners' poll of unsigned artists on P3, Norway's biggest national alternative radio station. He didn't stay unsigned for long, recording his debut album It's a Record summer 2002 for New Records - Bergen's freshest label, run and owned by record producers "The Sensible Twins" (aka HP Gundersen and Kato Ã…dland who also work with Tim Rose, Real Ones, Sondre Lerche, Julian Berntzen, Nathalie Nordnes, House Of Hiss and a list of other gems).
It's a Record was released to great anticipation in Norway, January 27, 2003. It saw a unison Norwegian music press roll their dices (as they do in reviews over here), awarding the album only the most flattering numbers (five and six, that is). The biggest newspapers - tabloids and non-tabloids - all agreed that It's a Record most certainly was an instant classic within its field. With the catchy singles ("City of Greens", "Perfection" and "How about 25") all receiving airplay on all kinds of radio formats, It's a Record entered the Norwegian sales chart at #12, in between the more usual Top 20 suspects. Sgt Petter appeared on all major music shows on television, and was subject to a prime time documentary of his work at Gjøa Studio with the Sensible Twins, on The Norwegian National Broadcasting Network (NRK).
With a growing reputation, also as a live act, Sgt Petter along with his five-piece band (The High Five) was invited to play some of the major Scandinavian festivals this summer; Denmark's Roskilde, Peace and Love Festival in Sweden and Norway's own Øyafestivalen and Quart Festival. On the more unexpected turn of events, Sgt. Petter was asked to perform songs from It's a Record with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra on two dates at Bergen's beautiful and exclusive Grieghallen.
It's a Record hit Dutch record stores through Excelsior Recordings on August 18 2003 and received an immediate welcome from the Dutch music press.
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