Zachary Scot Johnson

Zachary Scot Johnson is both a well-traveled singer-songwriter, having shared the stage with artists like Shawn Colvin, Keb' Mo', Marc Cohn, Jane Siberry, The Be Good Tanyas, Suzanne Vega, Lisa Loeb, Steve Forbert, The Verve Pipe, Richard Shindell, The Greencards, Cheryl Wheeler, Lucy Kaplansky, Susan Werner, Juliette Lewis, Shawn Mullins, Julia Nunes, Catie Curtis, Peter Mulvey, Willy Porter, Maria Muldaur, Rita Wilson, Kevin Costner and Modern West, Steve Poltz, Billy Joe Shaver, John Fullbright, Vonda Shepard, James McCartney, John Hammond, Natalia Zukerman, and others and a strong internet presence, including a YouTube channel with well over 40 million views, a strong Facebook fanbase, and more. He has performed for legends including Tony Bennett, Bernadette Peters, and others. He has been touring nonstop since 2001 and has performed just about everywhere within the US. He has released four CDs, including 2004's Moment of Clarity, 2008's To Whom It May Concern, 2011's Live at the Guild with longtime collaborators Mark Paffrath and Jeff Ward, and 2017's Sad Songs.

Born and raised in Racine, WI, Johnson now resides in Saint Paul, MN. He graduated in 2006 from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI as a triple major student of music performance, theatre arts, and psychology. As an actor, he has over 50 regional credits, including national tours, and is proud to have founded and run an improv comedy group for four years at Lawrence University. Zach's music has brought him to stages of all sizes across the country and onto multiple NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX morning and evening shows, radio around the country, and more.

Johnson's mastery of many instruments lead to exciting live shows, where Johnson performs on piano, 6 and 12 string acoustic and electric guitars, baritone guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin, violin, lap steel, harmonicas, octave mandolin, viola, bass, drums, percussion, banjolin, dulcimer, ukulele, pedal steel and more. His repertoire covers a wide range of styles and genres, from folk to jazz, rock to spoken word, blues to pop, country to a cappella, gospel to instrumental and more. Johnson is a nationally touring artist, performing 75 or more dates annually and is a proud member of the Grammy Recording Foundation.

His hit YouTube channel, thesongadayproject has Johnson bringing a song--either original or cover--from wherever he is on any given day and has run for over 3, 200 consecutive days (over 9 full years without a single missed day), and garnered an astonishing number of loyal viewers. Over 250 guests have appeared on the channel in collaboration with Zach including Donovan (who flew Zach to Ireland to record together), Shawn Colvin, Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell, Marc Cohn, Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber, The Newsroom, etc.) Noel Paul Stookey & Peter Yarrow (from Peter, Paul and Mary), Creed Bratton (The Office and The Grass Roots), Lisa Loeb, J.D. Souther, Paula Cole, Mary Gauthier, Melissa Manchester, Nellie McKay, Eliza Gilkyson, Cheryl Wheeler, John Gorka, Gretchen Peters, Ruthie Foster, Collective Soul, Over The Rhine, Stephen Kellogg, Jeremy Messersmith, Mary Black, David Wilcox, Tom Paxton, Ellis Paul, Lucero, and many more. He's also the host of The Joni Mitchell Podcast and Meryl Streep and The Movies, both available for free on all podcast platforms.

Past Shows


Feb
8
th
2024
Turf Club
Feb
8
th
2024
Turf Club

Go Your Own Way ⏤ A Fleetwood Mac Sing-along

with Mary BueEmily CasselmanCathy n AbelDoug CollinsJen EckesAnnie EnnekingAnnie FitzgeraldMatthew FrenchTed HajnasiewiczDan IsraelZachary Scot JohnsonAnnie MackLeslie RichKaty VernonLeslie Vincent

★ Local Show ★
Feb
10
th
2023
Turf Club
Feb
10
th
2023
Turf Club

Zachary Scot Johnson presents
Twin Cities All-Star '90s Tribute

with EMILY CASSELMANTAYLOR JAMES DONSKEYJENNIFER ECKESANNIE ENNEKINGBEN COOK-FELTZANNIE FITZGERALDMATTHEW FRENCHZACHARY SCOT JOHNSONLAKEWOOD CEMETERYBRIANNA LANELYDIA LIZAMAYGEN & THE BIRDWATCHERSARAH MORRISLESLIE RICHSAVANNAH SMITHCOLLEEN SOMERVILLELESLIE VINCENTNICOLE WILDER
Jun
16
th
2022
Turf Club
Jun
16
th
2022
Turf Club

Paul McCartney 80th Birthday Tribute

featuring TAYLOR JAMES DONSKEYBEN COOK-FELTZEMILY HAAVIKTED HAJNASIEWICZHER CROOKED HEARTDAN ISRAELZACHARY SCOT JOHNSONMEGHAN KREIDLER (KISS THE TIGER), MARE LENNONLESLIE RICHATOM ROBINSONJAMES RONEKATY TESSMAN w/ PAPA MBYEKATY VERNONSCOTT WOOLDRIDGE
Apr
27
th
2022
Turf Club
Apr
27
th
2022
Turf Club

Tribute to
Emmylou Harris & Loretta Lynn

featuring Cathy 'N Abel, Doug Collins, Jennifer Eckes, Vicky Emerson, Annie Fitzgerald, Zachary Scot Johnson, Lakewood Cemetery, John Louis, Sarah Morris, Mother Banjo, Jillian Rae, Lara Shortridge, Savannah Smith, Katy Tessman, Katy Vernon, and Nicole Wilder
Aug
19
th
2021
Turf Club
Aug
19
th
2021
Turf Club

A Tribute to John Prine

with Cathy 'n Abel, Lakewood Cemetery, Ben Cook-Feltz and more!
Feb
9
th
2020
Turf Club
Feb
9
th
2020
Turf Club

A TRIBUTE TO JAMES TAYLOR and SIMON & GARFUNKEL

with Doug Collins, Ben Cook-Feltz, M. FRENCH and more!
Apr
28
th
2019
Turf Club
Apr
28
th
2019
Turf Club

Joni Mitchell's 'Clouds' 50th Anniversary Tribute

with Zachary Scot Johnson, Vicky Emerson, Annie Fitzgerald and more!

More Shows

Jun
28
th
Turf Club

The Koffin Kats

Jun
8
th
Turf Club

Arcwelder

with Products Band
Jun
19
th
7th St Entry

Queef Jerky

May
10
th
7th St Entry

Kash'd Out

with Dale and the ZDubs