Kalinec & KJ taken from "Lets Get Away" Berkalin Records
Texan Brian Kalinec and Pennsylvanian Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner met by chance during one of Brian's shows in East Texas in 2013 when Kj happened to be in nearby Shreveport, Louisiana where she was conducting a seminar in educational song-writing. Later that year, when she came down to Texas on a trip, they had a chance to play a few songs together. Their impressive combined sound--songs, voices, and musicianship--convinced them that they should perform shows as a duo and began to do so the following year.
They are touring in the Northeast, in Colorado, and in Texas this year. Looking towards The British Isles and mainland Europe in 2022
Brian's writing has drawn favourable comparisons to that of Woody Guthrie, John Steinbeck, Rodney Crowell, and Jim Croce. He has been recognized in the US and Europe for both his songwriting and musicianship, winning the Songwriter Serenade in Texas, the Big Top Chautauqua in Wisconsin, placing second in the prestigious Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition. and was named a finalist in the UK Song-writing Contest.
Brian has performed at venerable festivals and venues including the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Bugle Boy, Gruene Hall, and Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse in Texas, as well as the Rose Garden Coffeehouse in Massachusetts. He also has toured The UK and Czech Republic with an appearance at The Belladrum Festival in Scotland.
He and his wife Pam own Berkalin Records, with a roster that features many well-respected singer-songwriters.
Kj is a full-time touring Singer-Songwriter. She has performed across the US and the UK as a solo artist and along with other artists including Steve Weisberg, Ted Vigil, and Dougie MacLean at noted venues and festivals including the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen Colorado, and in Scotland at the Killin Music Festival and the legendary Taybank's Real Music Bar in Dunkeld See “Home In Scotland” track 6 on the album .
Kj is also a recognized educator, trainer and multi-instrumentalist, providing keynotes, workshops, assemblies and residencies and has mentored hundreds of teachers and students through story, song, and song-writing.
Kj has been awarded several distinguished honours for educational song-writing from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, National Agriculture in the Classroom (NAITC) and The Visionary Award from Danville's Child Development Center.
www.facebook.com/Kalinec-Kj-1538635109750380
www.briankalinec.com/kalinec-kj/