Music Nation is a Music Video Competition for Independent Artists

“The best kept secret in independent music,” is how ThisIsModern.net has chosen to describe Pete Kilpatrick. A pretty bold statement even for a little webzine, but it seems they are not alone in their assessment of the 24-year-old Portland, ME singer-songwriter, who is often likened to sounding uniquely spaced between Pete Yorn, John Mayer and Travis. The Portland Phoenix has polled its readers the last two years and they have chosen Kilpatrick as its “Best Act” – a coveted title only achieved by one other…ever. Another pair of praises the past two years has come in the form of some Boston Music Awards nominations for songwriting and this year’s best male vocalist nod – news that rolled in just before Kilpatrick advanced to the finals of WFNX/Music Nation’s “Rock Star Rising” contest for a deal with Epic.

It seems fair to say that in the year since the little webzine’s “secret” announcement of Kilpatrick, there has been a widespread leak about Portland’s leading man. With regular swings through New England colleges and club dates – from the rural spots to the city – he and his band (that reads like an A-list of Boston and Portland rock bands) have been steadily shaking loose their secret moniker. The shows they have shared with Guster, G. Love, Augustana, Dashboard Confessional, Better Than Ezra, Rusted Root, Blues Traveler and others have certainly done wonders for working on the band’s anonymity label.

But the indie-embraced, pop-flavored Louder Than the Storm (2006), Kilpatrick’s third and latest release [produced by Jon Wyman (Ray Lamontagne, Rustic Overtones)] and featuring members of Guster, Soulive, As Fast As and Averi, might be the component that has really blown the whistle on Kilpatrick. The album’s recent sales, combined with his earlier two discs, have pushed the songwriter’s totals over the 20,000 mark, all while still remaining an independent artist, whose secrecy is steadily slipping away (the MTV and Oxygen Network shows that his music has appeared on certainly have not helped in keeping Kilpatrick hidden).

But beyond the accolades, clever magazine descriptions, reader’s polls, sales figures, etc., the humble Kilpatrick just keeps his focus on making even more interesting pop music. The near-ceaseless touring for the singer and his band will continue into 2008, with the live shows delving into energetic renditions of his deepening songbook alongside dashes of some pretty eclectic jams (Peter Gabriel and Boyz II Men?).

The Portland Press Herald appears to have had it right to call Kilpatrick, “The musician to watch in 2007” – it was inarguably an active year for the alt/indie crooner. But as far as his secret status goes, he may have to look into an alias or find a new place to hide because the critics and indie-pop scenesters have pinpointed his Maine whereabouts and aren’t keeping it to themselves.

He has shared the stage with-- Guster, O.a.r, Dispatch, Brett Dennen, G Love and Special Sauce, Rusted Root, Ray Lamontagne, Blues Traveler, Dashboard Confessional, Augustana, Better than Ezra, Pat Mcgee Band, Sixpence None The Richer, Carbon Leaf, Rahzel (of the roots) Rustic Overtones, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Percy Hill, Strangefolk, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Maia Sharp, Assembly of Dust, State Radio, Pete Francis, Eric Hutchinson, Jeffrey Gaines, Zox, The Alternate Routes, Midtown.

Pete has been called the "Best kept secret in Independent music" by thisismodern.net

"The 2007 Maine Artist to watch" Portland Press Herald

"Killer Songs"-Caleb Followill (Kings of Leon)

"These Guys are Fuckin Ridiculous"-Jason Mraz

"My new favorite artist"-Adam Gardner (Guster)

"Beautiful Music, Wonderfully Crafted"-Glen Hansard (The Frames)

"The new star of the Portland Music Scene"- The Portland Phoenix

Musical Styles

Influences