Biography:

Balkun Brothers is a sibling rock band from Hartford, CT. Brothers, Steve and Nick, grew up in a household filled with music and they have been playing together since their early teens. The band has been featured alongside acts such as Gary Clark Jr., Johnny Winter, Anvil, Joe Bonamassa, George Lynch, Chris Robinson, James Cotton, Gogol Bordello, Devon Allman, Melvin Seals and JGB, The Mike Dillon Band, Dub Trio, Dopapod and many more. The duo has also been featured on major festival line-ups alongside The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Linkin Park, Motley Crüe, Alice Cooper, Slayer, Iggy Pop and Elvin Bishop.

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Balkun Brothers has been a band for over a decade and was voted 'Best Rock Band in New England' at the 2017 New England Music Awards. Steve Balkun was also hand selected by Joe Bonamassa to join him on stage in Los Angeles, CA as part of the Guitar Center Blues Masters competition in 2013 after being voted a grand finalist at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

 

Brothers Nick and Steve, independently produced and released their debut album in 2015 entilted, 'ReDrova', which was well received and rose to #1 on the Roots Music Report Blues-Rock album charts and was #5 on the Roots Music Report overall Blues charts.

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Balkun Brothers signed with European label Dixiefrog Records in 2015 and released their much-anticipated second album, 'Devil On TV', with Dixiefrog in May of 2017.

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On their mission to spread rock n' roll across the universe, the brothers have toured extensively throughout the United States from coast to coast. The band has also completed six European tours since 2015, performing in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France.

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After releasing two albums on French record label, Dixiefrog Records, The Balkun Brothers returned to their rock and blues roots on the power duo's 2019 album, ‘The Sun Studio Sessions’, which was recorded in Memphis, TN at Sun Studios. The brothers paid tribute to their musical forefathers with songs ranging from fast, up-tempo rock anthems to dirty, sweat-covered, backwoods delta blues.

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After Completing a full United States tour in early 2020 and playing at famed venues such as The Whiskey A Go-Go and The Viper Room in Los Angeles, CA, the power duo from Hartford, CT returned to the studio alongside legendary producer, Steve Albini, to channel grunge, punk and rock on their album, ‘Here Comes The End Of The World’, available on Aisa Music and Auto Bon Records. This album mixes rock, thrash, doom and punk all into one fast-paced adrenaline covered rampage. The high-energy songs reveal the band's versatility in the studio and their in-your-face attitude bleeds true rock n' roll into the listener’s ears with every note. The album was produced, recorded and mixed on analog tape by legendary engineer, Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies, Iggy Pop), at Electrical Audio in Chicago, IL and mastered by Bill Skibbe (Jack White, The Black Keys, The Raconteurs) at Third Man Records in Detroit, MI. Jack White even attended Balkun Brothers' mastering session.

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Following this album, the band released two singles in late 2020 on Color Red Records. Both singles were produced by Eddie Roberts. The two songs mix psychedelic funk, rock, jam and punk.

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in 2021 the duo put out an EP, 'Paris Penthouse Party', which was recorded in Paris, France at Basement Studios by UK producer, Nick Buxton. The album was mastered by Sean Magee (The Beatles, The Ramones, Iron Maiden) at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, England. 

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Their next full length album, '735 Farmington Ave' was released in August 2022 and is a mix of rock, funk and alternative music. Produced and mixed by Jason Randall at More Sound Studios in Syracuse, NY and mastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios in London, England. 

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The brothers released their first official live album. 'Black Rock City Live', in 2024 and their new studio album, 'TWO LEATHER JACKETS', will be released November 2025. The album was recorded at the legendary Sunset Sound Studio in Los Angeles, CA with producer, Keith Snow (Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Better Than Ezra), in the same room Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Michael Jackson recorded in on Prince's famous microphones! 

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In 2025 Balkun Brothers has toured from California to New York City and has been crushing stages across the United States in between. The band's new album, 'TWO LEATHER JACKETS', will be out 11.23.25 and was recorded at Sunset Sound Studio in Los Angeles, CA. The album is released by Sony Music and the band recently signed with a new booking agency, Looseleaf Talent. Their tour has been building over the last year playing in CO, TN, VA, NY, CT, MA, VT, NH, NJ, RI, CA, IL, OH, MI and more! The band has put out two official music videos along with singles that will be on their upcoming album. As the tour gains traction, lead guitarist and vocalist, Steve Balkun, recently won the Connecticut Blues Society Acoustic Solo Challenge and will be representing CT at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN this January. With the momentum of the release of their new studio album, Balkun Brothers is planning another live album release and their biggest and most extensive tour for 2026!

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Balkun Brothers have performed at many prestigious venues

across the United States and Europe, including:

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The Whisky a go go – Los Angeles, CA

The Viper Room – Los Angeles, CA

The Iridium Jazz Club – New York City, NY

Cline Cellars - Sonoma, CA

Cubby Bear - Chicago, IL
BB King’s Blues Club – New York City, NY
The Bitter End – New York City, NY
Cafe Wha? – New York City, NY
Fairfield Theatre Company – Fairfield, CT
Mohegan Sun Casino – Uncasville, CT
Infinity Music Hall – Hartford/Norfolk, CT
Black Eyed Sally’s – Hartford, CT
Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT
Ridgefield Playhouse – Ridgefield, CT
Nectar’s – Burlington, VT
Johnny D’s – Boston, MA
Chan’s – Woonsocket, RI
Daryl’s House -Pawling, NY
Putnam Den – Saratoga Springs, NY
Time Out Pub – Rockland, ME
Callahan’s – Auburn Hills, MI
The Double Door Inn – Charlotte, NC
Orpheum Theatre – Memphis, TN

The Nick - Birmingham, AL
New Morning Jazz Club - Paris, France
Cabaret Sauvage – Paris, France
Quasimodo Jazz club – Berlin, Germany
North Sea Jazz Club – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Spirit of 66 - Verviers, Belgium

The Blues Garage - Isernhagen, Germany
…and many others.

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The band has been featured on a variety of festivals, including:

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Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI
Rocklahoma – Pryor, OK
Cognac Blues Passions Festival – Cognac, France
Bowers & Wilkins Rhythm and Blues Festival – Halle, Germany
Cultura Rock Festival – Rieberg, Germany
Suncoast Blues Festival – Sarasota, FL
Daytona Blues Festival – Daytona Beach, FL
Kaiserslautern Blues Festival – Kaiserslautern, Germany
Cocoa Village BBQ & Blues Fest – Cocoa Beach, FL
Big Bend Blues & Brews Bash – Pomeroy, OH
2 Left Feet Blues Festival – Simsbury, CT
Black Eyed and Blues Fest – Hartford, CT
Strangecreek Campout Music Festival – Greenfield, MA
Wormtown Music Festival – Greenfield, MA
Gypsy Moon Blues Festival – East Petersburg, PA
Blues At The Beach Music Festival – Stratford, CT
Harry Brown’s Hill Festival – Starks, ME
Backwoods Pond Fest – Peru, NY
Rock N’ Roll Resort – Kerhonskon, NY
Yellow Phone Music Festival – Milwaukee, WI
Launch Music Festival – Lancaster, PA
Dewey Beach Music Festival – Dewey Beach, DE

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Awards and accolades include:

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2025 Winner of Connecticut Blues Society Solo/Duo Challenge

2019 Winner of Connecticut Blues Society Solo/Duo Challenge

2017 Best Rock Band in Hartford - Hartford Courant

2017 Best Rock Band In New England – New England Music Awards

2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 Best Blues Band In Connecticut – CTnow.com & CT Music Awards
2016 Best Percussionist In Connecticut – Percussive Arts Society Of America
2015 Best Overall Band In Connecticut – CTnow.com & CT Music Awards
2014 Top Emerging Artist – Summerfest Music Festival – Milwaukee, WI
2014 Winner of Connecticut Blues Society Band Challenge
2013 Winner of Massachusetts Blues Society Solo/Duo Challenge
2016, 2012 Winner of Connecticut Blues Society Solo/Duo Challenge
Semi Finalist at the 2015 International Blues Challenge – Memphis, TN
Semi Finalist at the 2014 International Blues Challenge – Memphis, TN
Grand Finalist at the 2013 International Blues Challenge – Memphis, TN
Finalist in 2013 Guitar Center Bluesmaster Competition – Los Angeles, CA

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