The Story of The Union
More than just a band...
A folk-rock trio based in Freeville, NY, with members hailing from Ithaca, Homer, and Cortland, featuring multiple vocalist and songwriters on guitar, mandolin and percussion. Their passion for food, cooking, local farms & beverages, veggies, and nature shine thru in their songs and a good time is had by all!
The Union has an extensive, robust history. Started in 2015 by 3 farmers at a taco Tuesday, The Union has since featured a rotating cast of characters and has seen over 15 members join them on stage, including bass, keys, banjo, guitar, harmonica, fiddle, and vocals. Once they have “paid their dues”, you never know who will show up as a special guest.
“NY's premier Veggie Folk-Rock Band! AKA Funk Grass Jam music, they play quirky plant-based originals with some eclectic covers sprinkled in. Members of the Union consist of a Farmers, and a Chef, Pickin' veggies by day and tunes by night.”
The Executive Commitee
Farmer Bobcat - Guitar, Mandolin, and Vocals
Chef Elias Kushner - Percussion and Vocals
Current Union Members
Sam Teserario - Bass, Guitar, and Vocals
Doug Rehlman - Guitar, Harmoica, Fiddle, and Vocals
Hannah Toombs - Guitar, Uke, Fiddle, and Vocals
Alumni Members:
Andy Cortese, Justin Goodband, Bret Morris, Marc Morris, Jonathan Jordan Childs, Jimmy Hearn, Peter Blanchard, Nate Funke, Justin Olson, Tasha Hyland, and Kyle Halliwell.
The Local Farmers Union Recipe
The music created by the Union is hard to put in just one box. They draw from many musical influences and genres. They share a love for their musical heroes, such as The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Phish, Tom Petty, Ween, Sublime, The Rolling Stones, and many more.
2 cups - Rock
2 cups - Folk
2 cups - Fun!
1 cup - Jam
1 cup - Humor
1 cup - Inspiration
1 tbsp - Bluegrass
1 tbsp - Funk
A splash of - Education
A sprinkle of - Stories
