Steve Poltz turns it on

US singer-songwriter Steve Poltz had warmed the crowd up on Friday night in stage four. On Saturday morning, Poltz was the opening act on stage three, the festival’s premier venue.

Despite a 10am start, the venue was full and Poltz put on a show that left the adoring masses spellbound.

In the tradition of the great folk singers, Poltz is a wonderful storyteller with a wicked sense of humour and strong opinions on political and social issues. The diversity of his thoughts had him singing and talking about everything from baseball, Donald Trump, stuttering as a child, Elvis Presley and vegan lunches.

But the most powerful part of the show was when he talked of his disdain for cancer and the effect it has had on those around him.

Australian country music star Catherine Britt is a friend of Poltz and she had her own battle with cancer last year. Britt, who is now in good health, was at the side of the stage for Saturday’s show and Poltz called her on to the stage to sing a song the pair had written together two years ago but only performed once before. Britt then stayed on stage with Poltz announcing the two would duet on the Bob Dylan classic, Forever Young, a rendition that brought rapturous applause from the crowd.

Poltz said he loves the Port Fairy experience.

“I have been to Port Fairy two times now and it’s a brilliant festival, I love it,” Poltz said.

“I saw Catherine just before the show but we didn’t have the words of the song so she wrote them down on the side of the stage and we sang it from that.”

Britt is still performing and is also running the Rhythms magazine. She was thrilled to be on stage with Poltz.

‘I didn’t expect it, it was pretty special,” Britt said. 

“Steve is his own person, there is no one out there like him, he’s wonderful.”