Folk singer Steve Poltz entertains Winnipeggers at Park Theatre show

WINNIPEG — His name may not be immediately recognizable to many people, but his songs definitely are.

55-year-old singer-songwriter Steve Poltz co-wrote the tune”You Were Meant for Me” with then-girlfriend, Jewel Kilcher. The song took off and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Another one of his songs, “Everything About You” was featured in the movie Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.

On Saturday night, Poltz hit the stage of the Park Theatre, performing in Winnipeg for the second time this year.

“When people come to my shows I hope that they meet other people,” said Poltz. “And that they also sit there and say ‘wow I could write a song, this guy’s an idiot.'”

It’s not the singer’s first time in Winnipeg. The Halifax-born troubadour was in town in July to perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

WATCH: Steve Poltz talks about life, touring and getting back on stage after having a stroke

“Folk fest was crazy. I have played a lot of festivals but that was the biggest one,” said Poltz. “I felt like I was a freshman on my first day on a college campus and I was lost. There are so many stages.”

Coming to Winnipeg in July was special for the singer. His grandparents immigrated to the city from Hungary and worked in the fields. His father was also born here. However, until this past summer, he had never had the chance to visit Manitoba’s capital.

“It’s cool because I think of (my dad) as a little kid being here,” said Poltz.

It’s been a difficult year for the songwriter, who spent weeks in the hospital last October.

Poltz suffered a stroke midway during his solo gig in Wilmington, Del. He continued performing even after he temporarily lost his vision on stage.

“It’s been a year, almost to the day, when it happened. I had to cancel months of shows,” he said. “It’s made me a little bit more, a lot more I should say, appreciative. I almost feel like I’m on bonus time.”

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Poltz didn’t pick up his guitar for 3 months after his stroke. Which to him was “like a lifetime.”

“Then I just picked it up and I started writing songs and I wanted to start crying because I was so happy,” said Poltz. It’s like the guitar was my old friend again and we were reunited.”

Poltz just released his 12th album and has been performing for decades. While life on the road can sometimes take a toll, he said the love of performing keeps him going.

“The shows never get old. They are so much fun for me,” said Poltz. “I never use a set list. Each one is like a snowflake… they each have their own unique flavour.”