On another sweltering evening in Des Moines, identical twins Walter and Wagner Caldas stormed the stage at Jasper Winery, kicking off their set with a lively cover of Måneskin’s “Beggin,’” punctuated by their signature electric violin and ukulele. The crowd stretched deep into the vineyards. Hundreds had gathered to celebrate a bittersweet moment: the beloved duo’s farewell tour.
The Caldas brothers, better known as The Brazilian Twins — or B2wins — have spent nearly 20 years charming Iowa audiences of all sizes with their infectious pop covers and charisma. But now, they’re preparing to leave the state they’ve long called home.
Their journey from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to the stages of Iowa began with a single NPR segment. In 2006, journalist Julie McCarthy introduced the world to their story: twin boys whose father, a luthier who couldn’t play music himself, built them violins to help him refine his craft — and to keep them out of trouble…