Halifax Urban Folk Festival Presents – Steve Poltz + Carmen Townsend

  • August 28, 2018
    8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

The Halifax Urban F0lk Festival returns for its 9th year at The Carleton and is pleased to present the inimitable, irrepressible, Steve Poltz in all his wing-nut glory, along with the amazing Carmen Townsend, at The Carleton on Tuesday, August 28th. Show time is 8 PM and tickets are $30 available at TicketPro HERE.

Steve Poltz was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) but lived most of his life in Southern California before moving to Nashville and those geographic poles are quite likely responsible for his unhinged genius. He is a dual citizen – Canada/USA – but has often said that, “should a hostage situation arise, I become conveniently Canadian.”

Over the course of his life he’s met Elvis Presley (who hugged his sister for far too long), trick or treated at Liberace’s house (each finger had a diamond ring), was Bob Hope’s favourite altar boy (according to him), bravely traveled the world busking before he knew how to do it, famously co-wrote “You Were Meant For Me” with Jewel, pissed off David Cassidy and can count some of the world’s coolest people as fans.

As good as his many albums are (and they’re very, very good), Steve positively owns a crowd when he’s on stage; where the proverbial rubber hits the road. His shows are the stuff of legend – no two are alike – and can take an unsuspecting audience from laughter to tears and back again in the space of a single song. He is a master of improvisational songwriting and works without a set list to be free to react instantly to the mood of a room. It’s also worth mentioning that he is an astonishing guitar player on top of everything else.

He is quite possibly the most talented, and engaging, solo performer on this planet. That’s what 250+ shows a year on three continents will do for you. Whether he’s Canadian, or American, or simply from space, there’s no denying there’s only one Steven Joseph Joshua Poltz and to know him is to love him.

Cape Breton’s Carmen Townsend is a 4 time Music Nova Scotia Award-winning artist as well as an ECMA winner for Rising Star Recording of the year for her debut album. She was selected to be the opening act for Heart’s cross Canada tour and has also shared the stage with INXS , showcased internationally at SXSW, The Great Escape Festival and Liverpool Sound City. Carmen also spent 11wks in Australia and performed at The Woodford Folk Festival and The Peats Ridge Festival.

If Rock and Roll was walking down the street …it would be wearing a Carmen Townsend T-Shirt” – Matt Andersen.