Cindy Kalmenson
Biography

Cindy Kalmenson is an original voice in Nashville weaving deep sentiments with honesty and humor. Inspired and influenced by her favorite artists: Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young, Joan Baez and Emmylou Harris, to name a few, Cindy has developed a unique and heart felt sound very much her own.

Before moving to Nashville in 1996, Cindy lived in Santa Monica and Santa Cruz, Ca. where she taught bilingual education and high school Spanish for 8 years. In addition to being a full time teacher, Cindy performed in many community theater productions. After moving back to her native LA from Santa Cruz to pursue acting, she quickly discovered that she could be on stage any night of the week at the many open mic nights all around the city, with one catch ~ you must write your own songs...so that's when the song writing began...as a way to get back on stage, this time with guitar in hand. After a couple years playing the coffeehouse circuit in LA, she put herself to the test. In 1996 she packed her car and made the move to Nashville determined to record an album of her own songs. Two years later her debut CD, Let Me Out Here was completed produced by Preston Sullivan. But it was evident to her that she was not ready to return to California. Instead she began booking herself and touring all around the country to promote her new CD. The title track, Let Me Out Here, won frist place in the International Songwriting competition in 2003 and was featured on Big Love a popular new show on HBO. Witness, her second CD, co-produced by Grammy Award Winning Songwriter Jon Randal was complete 4 years later. Witness, the title track, won first place at the prestigious Chris Austin songwriting contest at Merlefest in 2002

A true indie girl at heart she has been booking, promoting and touring ever since 1997. One look at her web site and you will see the miles she has driven just to sing and play her sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes high energy and sometimes tear jerking songs. With her gypsy spirit and her sense of adventure she is singing her way across the country and Europe, enchanting audiences with her wit and honesty. To see her live you witness the charm of a true artist born to be on stage.

After finding the "man of her dreams" and having a daughter at 44, Cindy is back at it recording her 3rd CD due out in September. Co-produced with bass virtuoso Dave Pomeroy and featuring the best musicians Nashville has to offer, this CD includes songs that encompass a wide range of styles including Jazz, pop , folk, blues and a hit of country. With family in tow, CIndy is excited to get back on the road to sing her new songs and the songs that have become favorites where ever she goes.

Cindy is also the founder and host of the very successful show called Girls with Guitars that she began in 1996 showcasing some of the finest singer songwriters in Nashville. Many of them have gone on to major record contracts and publishing deals.

Of notable mention
*1st place Winner of the International Songwriting Contest for best country song: 2003
*Spotlight artist in the Performing Songwriter Magazine Dec. 2003
*1st place Winner of the 2002 Chris Austin song writing contest at Merlefest
*3rd place Winner of the 2002 Chris Austin song writing contest at Merlefest
*1st place Winner of South Florida Folk Festival Song Contest 2003 for best Up Tempo song:
*1st place Winner for best Americana song for Hobo Rock Star by Just Plain Folks 2002
*A finalist at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival songwriter showcase in August '01.
*DIY pick for Witness (CD) in Jan '03 issue of Performing Songwriter
*DIY pick for Let Me Out Here (CD) Sept. ‘98 issue of Performing Songwriter
*Witness(CD) was chosen as one of the top 10 CDs of 2002 by the Santa Monica Mirror
*Witness (CD) wins 3rd place for best country record of 2002 by Just Plain Folks

Cindy has opened for Janis Ian, David Wilcox, John Gorka, Chris Smither, Chuck Pyle, Guy Clark , Christine Lavin, Cliff Eberhart, Tom Russell, Slaid Cleaves, Bill Morrissey, Kim Richey, Susan Werner, Catie Curtis, John Stewart and Terri Hendrix.

Some 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
Alabama & Ga. The Florabama, The Acoustic Cafe, Eddie's Attic...
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
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,