Cindy Kalmenson

Winner of the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks songwriting contest ! 450 entries and Witness and Midlife Chrysler win first place!

Cindy continues to travel as a solo artist as well as playing festivals, listening rooms and house concerts around the West. She is a very spontaneous, engaging and soulful performer who feels very much at home on stage. Cindy was named the winner of West Coast’s songwriting associations contest for best song of 2010. She has been compared to Sheryl Crow, Kathleen Edwards, and Lucinda Williams.

Cindy was the founder and host of a very successful show that began in 1996 called Girls With Guitars showcasing some of the finest singer songwriters in Nashville. Many of the girls have gone on to major label contracts and publishing deals: Lisa Carver, Nicole Witt, Mary Gauthier, Mindy Smith.

Venues Cindy has played around the country:

New York: The Bottom Line,The Den, The Living Room, The Fast Folk Cafe, The Bitter End, Bodles Opra House and the Postcrypt
Pennsylvania: Godfry Daniels, Tin Angel
Virginia: The Birchmere, Jamin Java
Maryland: The Ram’s Head
New Jersey: Home Town Music series
New Hamshire: The Muse at the Grey Goose
Massachusetts: Johnny D’s, Passims, The House Of Blues, The Green Rooster, The Java Hut, The Red Lion Inn
Oregon: Glen Eden Hall , St. Johns Pub, The Artichoke Cafe
Alabama & Georgia: The Florabama, The Acoustic Cafe, Eddie’s Attic…The Dogwood Festival
Texas: Kerrville Folk Festival, East Dallas House concerts, Shelton Hall, Poor Davids Pub, Uncle Calvin’s, Mucky Duck, Anderson Fair, Liveoak Coffeehouse, Cactus Cafe, Millbend Coffee House, Wildwood Coffee House, Jefferson Freedom Cafe, Waldo’s Coffee House, Opendoor Coffee House, Benton Music Series, Nyles Wine Bar
Colorado: Grand Lake Music Festival, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, Swallow Hill, Jerry D’s , Brendan’s Pub, Lake Dillon Bar and Grill, The Hyatt at Blackhawk, The C Note
California: Genghis Cohen, Russ and Julies House Concerts, Laurie Schaffer Presents, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Strings, Bodie House Concert Series, Santa Rosa House Concerts, The Sweetwater Stage 3, Sutter Creek Theater,The Cozmic Cafe, Dave’s Cave
The American River Music Festival, Calaveras County Music In The Parks Series
North Carolina & South Carolina: Purple Onion, Flat Rock Music Festival, The Acoustic Seen, The Evening Muse, 6th String, Fiddle & Bow, The Apple Festival
Florida: South Florida Folk Festival, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, Main St. Cafe, Fogartyville, Bob Singer’s House Concert, Shirley Cannon House Concert

Opened For

Janis Ian, David Wilcox, Eric Anderson, Chris Smither Slaid Cleaves, John Gorka, Tom Russell, Guy Clark, Susan Werner, Terri Hendrix, and Ellis Paul

Influences

Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Jackson Browne, Janis Joplin, Flamenco guitar, Towns Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, K.D. Lang,Sheryl Crow, Patty Griffin, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Judy Garland, Eva Cassidy
Movies: The Wizard Of Ox
TV Shows: Gilligan’s Island,
2 1/2 Men

Other songwriting awards include:

Best Band of Ojai 2013
1st place best song West Coast Songwriting Contest
1st place for International Songwriting Contest for best country song:
1st place Winner Chris Austin song writing contest at Merlefest :
1st place Winner of South Florida Folk Festival Song Contest
1st place Winner for best Americana song by Just Plain Folks
finalist at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and Falcon ridge folk festival songwriter showcases