The big names like John Fogerty and Keith Urban might attract music fans to festivals like Point Nepean, but it is the hidden surprises that make you walk away fulfilled. The hidden treasure from Point Nepean was a guy called Seasick Steve.
Seasick Steve graced the stages of Point Nepean from 1.30pm on Sunday afternoon. He won the audience with his sheer honesty, humour, humility and his playing.Not content with the audience sitting and watching the performance, Steve put down his instrument, climbed down off the stage and over the fence and went into the crowd to get them to stand up ... and they did.
He cussed at the freeloaders, those on their yachts who pulled up alongside the bayside stage for a free show instead of paying.
And he told great stories. Steve recounted his childhood, abused by a step-father from the age of 4 and how he left home at 14. He talked about his time in and out of jail, and the sad story of his pet Labradour who died recently and broke his heart.
Unlike the stack of guitars John Fogerty had the night before, Steve kept it simple with "a piece of shit" a friend bought for him and a Diddley Bow.
The 'piece of shit' is a 3 stringed guitar that he purchased from his friend Sherman. He told of how Sherman bought the guitar for $25 and sold it to him for $75. He prides himself now on being able to tour the world and recount the story of how Sherman ripped him off.
The Diddley Bow is the southern home instrument made from tin cans and a piece of string. (Steve's was decorated with an old Christmas ornament). It is a 2 foot long piece of board with the cans at either end and the string nailed to each end. The Diddley Bow is the instrument that blues legend Bo Diddley took his name from.
Steve had been living life as a hobo until recently. His first TV appearance came on New Year's Eve 2006 with thanks to Jools Holland (who was also on the festival).
Seasick Steve is a show you have to see.
He has two shows left in Australia.
March 25 at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne and March 26 at The Basement in Sydney.
He also has a few shows scheduled for France, Ireland, Scotland and Japan in June and July and on October 1 will perform at the Royal Albert Hall.
You MUST see Seasick Steve.
