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Born: 1969 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Acoustic folk singer-songwriter Kowalek formed her first band, Petticoat Junction, in 1992 - an all-female alternative-country band which last for two years before striking out on her own as a solo performer. Her first recordings were released as an independent cassette called 'Providence' in 1994. She played the Edmonton and Ottawa Folk Festivals that year.

Working two waitressing jobs and juggling live gigs allowed her to save enough money to pay for recording her debut album, 'Grace', which was produced by Shannon Johnson (of Bourne and Johnson; The McDades) at Wolfwillow Sound in Edmonton in 1996. It was re-released on the Victoria, BC label Ragged Pup in 1997. The album featured a number of Alberta musicians including ex-Junior Gone Wild member Chris Smith.

Cordova Bay Records artist Wyckham Porteus discovered her and the album while at The Edmonton Folk Festival and brought the CD back to play for label owner Doug Baxter. He like it immediately and signed Kowalek.

Luann was encouraged by people like Susan Aglukark, Rosanne Cash, Jann Arden and the Wyrd Sisters to keep writing and performing. Her perseverance finally lead to the studio with producer Rick Fenton (Amos Garrett, Joel Sonnier, Bill Bourne) and Nashville mixing engineer Miles Wilkinson (John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Guy Clarke) to create 1998's 'Late Night Heroes'. The album was once again recorded in Edmonton with Mike Lent (bass), Miche Pouliot (drums), and Ron Casat (organ).

That year she played South By Southwest in Austin, Texas plus concert-hall appearances for a Calgary songwriter series and a CBC Radio Cabaret session hosted by Peter Gzowski at Edmonton's Winspear Centre.

In recent years Kowalek has been performing in the Marlin Spike Revue with Chris Smith, Terry Morrison, and Scott Wicken which included a 2010 appearance at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival plus her latest ensemble - Rambling Roses Revue with Jen Kraatz and Wendy McNeill.


Singles


Albums
1994 Providence [cassette] (independent)
1997 Grace (Ragged Pup)
1998 Late Night Heroes (Ragged Pup/Cordova Bay/Oasis)

Video


Compilation Tracks