Halifax-born, now Nashville-based by way of San Diego, the one-of-a-kind showman that is Steve Poltz returns to Halifax for his annual run of shows at The Carleton, starting with this one on Friday, April 17th. Steve will make his usual unpredictable entrance at 8 PM and tickets are $50 + HST (the best money you will ever spend).
Steve made his Carleton début in July, 2008 (the 3rd artist we ever booked) and is now closing in on 100 performances on our stage, as his audience has grown exponentially over the ensuing years. We have never seen him do the same show twice – nor has anyone else on the planet. Those who know, already know, so if you haven’t seen him yet, don’t you think it’s about time you did?
It might’ve even been last night, but Steve Poltz just played the greatest show of his life. Guess what? The next show will be even greater, making that show the greatest show of his life. Are you starting to notice a trend? He isn’t shy about it either. Even after most likely thousands of shows (but who’s counting?), he hits the stage with the same amount of energy and always makes sure to declare, “This is the greatest show of my life.”
It’s why he’s quietly emerged as the kind of live phenomenon celebrated passionately by a diehard fanbase worldwide and renowned as a festival favourite everywhere from Bluesfest in Byron Bay Australia, the High Sierra Music Festival in California, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado to Cayamo Cruise (where he actually got married). It’s why his music has crept into pop culture via collaborations with everyone from Jewel and Billy Strings to Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, Nicki Bluhm, Oliver Wood, and even the late Mojo Nixon. It’s why after over a dozen albums, he’s still creatively firing on all cylinders and critically acclaimed by the likes of Rolling Stone, Associated Press, Billboard, and many more.
He kicked off his musical journey in San Diego-bred underground favourites The Rugburns. However, the world got to know Steve when co-wrote two tracks from Jewel’s diamond-certified debut Pieces Of You, including the multi platinum Billboard Hot 100 #2 You Were Meant For Me (he’s also in the video). He delivered his own full-length debut One Left Shoe in 1998 and paved the way for an extensive solo catalog defined by what he calls “evocative lyrics mixed with positivity and traces of tragicomedy.”
“I travel from town to town and fool people,” he grins. “I sing them songs and tell them stories and somehow they decide to pay money to obtain some merch and witness the spectacle. Then I return a year later and fool them again.”
In the end, Steve is probably gearing up for the greatest show of his life as you read this.