Brian Kalinec

Brian Kalinec has been called "a combination of Woody Guthrie, John Steinbeck, James Taylor, and Rodney Crowell in the stories he tells" in a review by Staffan Solding at Rootsy. He has also been described by Robert Bartosh of Roots Music Report as “one of the most creative songwriters from the Texas music scene".

Brian has received a considerable recognition here and abroad, winning events such as The Songwriter Serenade Competition, The Big Top Chautauqua Song Contest, 2nd place in the Woody Guthrie Song Contest, and a finalist in the UK Songwriting Contest, to name a few. He was nominated for Songwriter Of The Year and Musician Of The Year in the Texas Music Awards in the recent past.

He has appeared at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and venues such as Uncle Calvin's in Dallas, The Bugle Boy in La Grange, and as a featured guest on Rich Warren's Folkstage on WFMT in Chicago.

Brian is now releasing a new project, “The Beauty of it All”, on June 30th, 2023. A song from this album, “Redwood Fence”, premiered in late January on Americana Highways. He recently toured the UK with his duo partner Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner in July 2022 in support of the "Kalinec & Kj" 2021 release “Let’s Get Away”, which included appearances at the Belladrum Festival near Inverness. His 2023 touring plans include a festival in the Czech Republic and an appearance again at Belladrum.

Brian and his wife Pam own Berkalin Records, a label which is home to a number of well respected folk and americana artists. Brian is a past president of The Southwest Regional Folk Alliance, and was recently on the boards of directors for Songwriter Serenade and Houston Live.