Michael Veitch
Michael’s background is in environmental activism and social justice. Michael’s activism lead him to politics where he worked for progressive candidates and ultimately ran himself as an independent progressive for Vermont State senate in the early 90´s. Michael had also come to know Shawn Colvin well by this time, and she was encouraging him to do more with my music than just singing in his cellar. Michael felt he was at a crossroad and he made the decision that if he won the election, he would give up music and go down the political road; and if he lost, it would be music.
Despite a very successful campaign, which included an endorsement by Vermont´s Independent Congressman Bernie Sanders and a sold out fundraising concert by Shawn, Michael lost with 25% of the vote. Not long after that, he found himself opening a serious tour for Shawn, playing to sold theaters everywhere and hanging out backstage with the likes of Jackson Browne, Leo Kottke, Richard Thompson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and many more of his all time favorite musicians. A high point of that tour, among many, was going to the White House with Shawn and Leo Kottke, and meeting Bill Clinton in the Oval Office. Ironically, it was music that got Michael to the White House and not politics, something that reconfirmed his belief that he could do more to raise awareness of serious issues and affect change by performing songs that carried his message and made people think. And it´s the reason folk music exists!
Michael is proud and humbled to be able carry on the tradition of Woody, Dylan, Pete Seeger, Odetta, Billy Bragg, and all the rest.
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