Audiences still flock to National Folk Festival 50 years after it began

That is especially true when we're talking about the National Folk Festival and particularly so in the case of American singer-songwriter Steve Poltz. For him, one massive song catapulted his career. Yet it was a song made hugely popular by another artist.

Wind back to 1996 and the world was enjoying the beautifully sad break-up number You Were Meant for Me. It was a big hit for the stunning diva songstress Jewel, who wistfully sang of being in a daydream over a failed romance – but somehow trying to convince herself that all would work out in the end … "I know you love me and soon I know you will see, you were meant for me and I was meant for you".

Poltz co-wrote the song with Jewel and they were in a relationship at the time. Jewel's 1995 album it appeared on Pieces of You was produced by the late Ben Keith, pedal steel guitarist and long time Neil Young collaborator.

And that tells us all we need to know about Steve Poltz's musical influences.

"It was done at Neil Young's ranch," Poltz screams down the phone while on tour in the US before flying to Australia to appear as a headline act for the National.

"Neil Young's ranch, I tell ya! I was freaking out.

"You know, when I was 14 I was on the beach with a girl and I had just learned how to play The Needle and the Damage Done.

"I was trying to impress this girl with it and it worked. Neil's song came through for me and it was the first time I punch-kissed a girl. I could smell her spit on me.

"So then to be in a studio on Neil's ranch years later and have Ben Keith produce the album was mind blowing.

"It was like a dream. Like that Bob Dylan song Bob Dylan's Dream. It was just surreal.

"Neil Young would come in every once and a while and say hi.

"It was in a big room with a mic hanging down so there's lots of echo. Neil would say 'echo is like karma, you can never have too much'.

"Ben Keith would keep telling me to eat more bacon and he would weigh me every morning. I tell you it was a bizarre and beautiful experience, the whole thing."

Poltz's excitement and humour is very evident throughout what has to be one of the most entertaining phone interviews ever undertaken.

And that is what his solo performances are known for.

There is not a dull moment during a Steve Poltz gig.

Which makes him somewhat of a contradiction.

His National Folk Festival shows are likely to switch effortlessly between the sublime – beautiful original songs like the one he wrote with Jewel – and the ridiculous – "I'm going to get on stage naked and then throw raw hot dogs at people until they all get trichinosis. That's my goal. I'm the chipolata of folk singers and I'm going to infest Canberra."

He assures he won't really do that.

Poltz is well received in Australia and sure to be a hit at the National. He has a solid following of fans who recognise his songwriting strength and his ability to keep an audience engaged; he often uses the bridge of a song to tell a riveting story.

Like the one about former teen idol David Cassidy, who once summoned Poltz to Las Vegas to have him write a hit song. But it all went wrong.

"That's when I was drinking. I was a bit crazy then. Crazy people shouldn't drink," he says.

"I was in Vegas and was going to meet with Cassidy and talk about writing a song for him.

"I met two girls in the casino who I thought really liked me. Turned out they were prostitutes. Who would have thought?

"Anyway, I ended up getting aggro about it all. Got a bit aggro with David about it too. And I ended up getting thrown out of the casino.

"Never did get to do that song."

He promises to be a little more restrained at the National, but just as entertaining.

"I do have a good relationship with Australia," he says.

"I wasn't a stalker slowly stalking you guys. I wasn't doing the drive by 'keep your heads down' kind of stuff and the constant U-turns. But yet I do keep coming back and you keep having me.

"Last time I played in Canberra it was nice, but the rest of Australia say 'oh, don't go there,' and they tell me it's only known for porn and politicians.

"Porn and politicians go hand in hand – or hand in wiener."

Such is the diversity of the National Folk Festival that great artists and even greater personalities from almost all genres of music can be seen giving their all for appreciative audiences.

This year marks the 50th festival for the National. That's a lot of festival-ing over the years.

"We have a very special program planned for The 50th National Folk Festival and the 2016 festival will be like no other," said festival director Pam Merrigan.

"There'll be artists and audiences converging from every corner of the globe and around Australia to be part of our 50th celebrations, and we do have a few surprises in store."

Poltz is certainly one of those surprises.

But so too are many of the other acts to be featured over the Easter long weekend.

Celebrated UK folk singer Nancy Kerr will also headline the festival and bring with her for the first time to Australia her Sweet Visitor Band, to launch their album Sweet Visitor.

Awarded the 2015 BBC Folk Singer of the Year, Kerr has worked on 27 albums over the course of her career.

She will also appear at the National in duo concerts with her musical and life partner James Fagan. In a triple treat from Kerr, she will also join Australian folk royalty The Fagans on stage for a few performances.

Vishten, from French Canada, too will be a highlight of the festival, combining the tradition of French chanson and Celtic tones in a uniquely beautiful style.

Two of the world's best guitarists, Tony McManus from Scotland and Beppe Gambetta from Italy will (separately) present their mastery on the stringed instrument.

The Irish will feature heavily in this year's festival, with concerts commemorating the Easter Rising,

Remembered by many as the beginning of a revolutionary cultural and language movement which forged Ireland towards independence and self-determination, the Easter Rising was an armed insurrection that took place mostly in Dublin during Easter week 1916.

These specially scheduled festival concerts will celebrate Australia's connection with Ireland in dance, music, poetry and song.

Australia's Dom Turner from the Backsliders will team up with one of America's foremost blues harmonica players Phil Wiggins for some delta, Piedmont and country blues.

Kristina Olsen returns from the US with her big bluesy voice and classy understated guitar-ing. Always a favourite whenever she appears at the National.

Also back by popular demand are the four Australian gals All Our Exes Live in Texas, who rocked the roof off at their last appearance at the National.

Margaret RoadKnight, Frencham Smith, and many other superb Australian acts will perform across the numerous stages of the National throughout Easter.

And they will be matched by some outstanding local Canberra acts – including Den Hanrahan and the Rum Runners (Dave O'Neill, Peter Logue and Matt Nightingale) playing songs from their exquisite, recently released, self-titled album.

Overall, there will be more than 1200 artists appearing at the National Folk Festival over five days in the capital.

But back to Steve Poltz.

Yes, his career took off after the release of the sweet song he co-wrote with Jewel.

In his own way, he too was thrust into a degree of pop stardom.

Today, he calls himself a folk singer. His latest album is even called Folk Singer and he says he is more than comfortable being recognised as such.

"You know, Jewel went on to huge things in the music world," he says.

"She was opening for Neil Young in Madison Square Gardens way back then. That was a very nervous thing, but Neil told us 'it's just another hash house on the road to success. Show no respect'."

Jewel has also opened for Bob Dylan as well as headlining many of her own big venue concerts.

Poltz used to sometimes open for Jewel back when they were still a couple.

Yet it is amazing how far one good song can take an artist.

Royalty cheques still flow in.

"I'm still in contact with Jewel, but she's a much bigger identity than me," Poltz says.

"She has people who arrange all that VIP meet and greet and fans still pay big for that kind of access.

"I'm going to do my own VIP meet and greet at the National Folk Festival where you can see me and get an autograph.

"I'm going to charge 50 cents, because I won't f--ing do it for nothing."

Laughs all round.

The National Folk Festival is at Exhibition Park in Canberra March 24-28.