Steve Poltz

An alt-folk singer/songwriter and all-around nonconformist, Steve Poltz has had a colorful career since striking out with San Diego cowpunk cult faves the Rugburns in the early '90s. Along the way, the Canadian-American co-wrote Jewel's 1995 hit "You Were Meant for Me," and made a short major-label run of his own before steering his solo career back into the D.I.Y. realm with a string of eclectic releases in the 2000s that alternately showcased his offbeat humor and warm sincerity. As likely to veer off into exploratory pop avenues as to play it straight and acoustic, Poltz established himself as a hard-touring troubadour and festival mainstay while issuing well-received albums like 2008's Traveling and Unraveling, 2010's Dreamhouse, and 2016's Folksinger. Long associated with his adopted hometown of San Diego, Poltz surprised fans by relocating to Nashville and signing his first label deal in 20 years, yielding the Red House releases Shine On (2019) and Stardust & Satellites (2022).