Find a Union Musician

Zacharie Bachand is a pedal steel player and guitarist based out of Montréal, Québec. His musical voice lives near the intersection of experimental and folk music, and is rooted in his professional training as a jazz musician and improviser. He has had the pleasure of accompanying artists at some of the most illustrious venues and folk festivals across Canada, forging connections within the folk music industry and deepening his knowledge of folk music traditions. While his unique voice and professional attitude are sought after by many artists, it is with these that he seeks to infuse his own artistic projects. His own work seeks to creatively engage with the worlds of folk and experimental music, using compositional and improvisational practices to inform his artistic output. He is currently focused on writing music for small ensembles centered around the pedal steel.

David Borough appears with the band, Radio Rail.  Radio Rail has performed at The Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering, The Songs for the Transcontinental Railroad Concerts, The California State Railroad Museum, The Cold Springs Tavern, and The Old Town Sacramento Gold Rush Days Festival. As well as venues from Cisco's Creekside in San Luis Obispo, to The Urban Village Farmers Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area...

Bill Garrett is a musician, producer and occasional songwriter. Involved in folk music for decades, he has performed internationally, recorded several albums both solo, and with partner Sue Lothrop and has produced some 65 albums for other artists. Until its sale in 2021 He was a partner in Borealis Records. He has sat on the boards of Folk Alliance International, the Canadian Folk Music Awards and  Folk Music Canada. He is a proud recipient of Folk Music Ontario’s Estelle Klein Award with whom he had the privilege of working on the Mariposa Folk Festival.  Prior to Borealis he worked for several years as a music and program producer at CBC Radio. He currently stays busy in the studio producing other artists including James Keelaghan, Mamas Broke, Shelley Posen and The Durham County Poets. When not producing others he performs and records with his wife Sue Lothrop.

I, Kevin Neal, am a pedal steel guitarist and dobro player currently living in Toronto, Ontario. 

As a member of the women's trio Belles of Hoboken in the early 80s (with Janet Stecher and Marcie Boyd), Susan performed throughout the New York City area and recorded numerous songs for the "Fast Folk" musician's cooperative monthly musical "magazine." When she moved to Seattle, Susan was a founding member of the quartet Shays' Rebellion, along with fellow Local 1000 member John O’Connor (as well as Tim Hall and Janet Stecher). Their 'songs of social movements past and present' were shared with audiences across the United States and Canada.  Their album "Daniel Shays' Highway" was released on Flying Fish Records (FF427) in 1987. 

Award nominated songwriter Zachary Lucky is unapologetically old-school country, armed with a husky, baritone voice - He carries himself like a younger Richard Buckner or a heartier Doug Paisley and often receives comparisons to songwriters such as Gordon Lightfoot and Kris Kristofferson. He sings of Canadian places and people as knowingly as he might Townes Van Zandt or the Rio Grande. His shows and songs are relatable on many levels, and conjure universal feelings that have passed through our collective timelines. Hailing from Saskatchewan Canada, but now based in Orillia, Ontario.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, I started learning guitar at age 12, and teaching and performing at age 16. The guitar has been a wonderful journey throughout my entire life, and I hope that it will never end.

“...one of New England’s clearest and most distinctive folk voices, with unusually piercing lyrical insight...” - Hartford Courant

Roots based singer songwriter/folk musician.

John hails from the Bronx, New York. His father Juan Acosta was a percussionist from Cuba who worked as a touring musician with Latin jazz greats such as Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. In California, John began his recording career working as a composer, guitarist, producer and engineer for artists on Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Geffen, BMG, Elektra and Capitol Records. John was a member of the group Forest for the Tree's which reached #18 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts, has collaborated with Beck, and landed a top ten hit in the UK working with the artist 1000 Clowns. John's work as a musician lead to his work with AFM Local 47, advocating for musicians rights. Currently John serves as President of AFM Local 47 and on the AFM International Executive Board.

I have worked with Sara Bareilles, Katharine McPhee, Bebe Winans, Warren Haynes, Ashanti, and Broadway hits like Hamilton and Waitress. So contact me now and let's make your music shine!

Folk musician focused on early American music, old English songs, maritime music. Also an instrument maker of woodwinds that apply to these traditions - fifes, whistles, flutes.

For fifty years John McCutcheon has been a stalwart of the American folk music scene, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, storyteller, author, activist, union man.  He was introduced to folk music as an 11-year-old watching the March on Washington on television.  The wedding of art and activism captured him then and he’s spent the many years since exploring that union. 

I am a singer-songwriter who has been actively touring Western Canada for 5 years. Prior to my most recent release, I attended several conference and showcase opportunities (Folk Alliance International 2016, 2017, 2019; AmericanaFest 2015, 2018; BreakOut West 2017, 2018) to promote and engage local and international industry for the release. After releasing my sophomore album, "Driving In The Dark", international interest and touring opportunities continue to present themselves. I play 1-2 local shows in my home city of Calgary per year, if any and focus the entirety of my live show strategy around touring new markets, specifically targeting the UK and USA Americana scenes as this is where my music has been charting based off of radio play demographics. With recent bookings at the Philadelphia Folk Fest, several tour dates with Sarah Shook and other US plays, we are hunting for a US agent to continue touring and making an impact across borders.

“A quartet the likes of which I haven’t seen since... Coope, Boyes and Simpson, the Watersons, or The Voice Squad. Just absolutely phenomenal!” -BBC Traveling Folk

Mountain Dulcimer Aficionado and Folk Music Educator

Liv Cazzola is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, educator, and avid collaborator. Though based in Guelph Ontario, Liv is typically seen performing in Tragedy Ann or The Lifers, in North America and Europe. She sings to seek understanding, question the current, relish in the goodness, and create necessary change. 

Singer, songwriter performing primarily for children and families. Perform and teach as artist in residence at schools, libraries, community centers and at private parties. Song leading at rallies and other political events, often with Occupella, a crew of singer/songleaders/songwiriters.  Occasionally perform for adults, leftist events, usually unpaid. Play with women's samba group, Sistah Boom.  I'm 73 years old and semi-retired from paid work at this point.

Erin McKeown is a musician, writer, and producer known internationally for her prolific disregard of stylistic boundaries. Her brash and clever electric guitar playing is something to see. Her singing voice is truly unique —clear, cool, and collected. Over the last 20 years, she has performed around the world, released 11 full length albums, and written for film, television, and theater, all the while refining her distinctive and challenging mix of American musical forms.