Troubadour Steve Poltz has announced the return of his BaHOOTenzie! Song School and Folk Fest, presented in partnership with the Joshua Tree Music Festival and set for Joshua Tree, CA’s Joshua Tree Lake Campground on May 2-4 (Song School) and May 5-6 (Folk Fest). Tickets are on sale now exclusively at joshuatreemusicfestival.com/bahootenzie.
This year’s second annual BaHOOTenzie! Folk Fest will see Poltz and some of his most talented friends performing more than a dozen sets over two days and nights in the magical Mojave. Highlights will include performances from Keller Williams, Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket), Rainbow Girls, Tim Bluhm (The Mother Hips), Maya De Vitry, Amber Rubarth, and Lisa Sanders. The BaHOOTenzie! Folk Fest will be preceded by a special two-day songwriting session led by Poltz alongside his handpicked fellow instructors, Tim Bluhm, Amber Rubarth, and Maya de Vitry. Songwriters, players and music lovers of all ages and experience levels are invited to participate.
“I’m so excited to announce BaHOOTenzie! Song School and Folk Fest 2023,” says Steve Poltz. “Last year was so much fun that we simply had to do it again.
“What is BaHOOTenzie? It’s a weird word, that’s for sure. My dearly departed Dad, Joe Poltz, used to say it, he said it means, ‘Many blessings, let’s go nuts!’ I loved that. I like the word BaHOOTenzie because it has ‘HOOT’ in it. And ‘HOOT is one of my favorite words in the history of favorite words. So instead of shouting ‘Many blessings, let’s go nuts,’ I just say…BaHOOTenzie!
“Now, I love nothing more (well, almost nothing) than performing. But I truly dig the fine art of crafting a song and writing music, and teaching others to find their muse and blossom. So we’re going to host a Song School in the days prior to the Folk Fest, with Tim Bluhm, Amber Rubarth, Maya De Vitry and yours truly as teachers. They all bring a wealth of knowledge and songwriting experience and we can’t wait to see you there.
“What a time we had last year. People wrote songs and danced and sang and howled at the moon. Let’s BaHOOTenzie…again!”
“Steve has wowed crowds here at the Joshua Tree Music Festival numerous times,” says Joshua Tree Music Festival Founder/Organizer Barnett English. “He’s one of the greatest entertainers I’ve had the pleasure to witness. In April 2021, Steve asked, ‘I love it here in Joshua Tree; could I invite some friends to come perform here, and host a FolkFest and SongSchool?’ ‘Absolutely!’ was my immediate response. Not ten minutes later, from the stage, Steve announced the inaugural BaHOOTenzie Folk Fest and Song School to the delight of the crowd. So here we are again. It’s an honor and a thrill to be collaborating with Steve to make BaHOOTenzie #2 come to life.”
BaHOOTenzie! Folk Fest tickets are $150 for two days and nights of music (single-day tickets are $85). Camping is available on site at the Joshua Tree Lake RV Campground (RV hook-ups available). Cozy Camper Trailers (w/AC) will be available backstage for rental via Casagogo HERE. Camping fees are not included. On-site camping, RV sites and RV hook-ups can be reserved directly through Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground HERE.
The BaHOOTenzie! Song School will present over 16 hours of small group instruction in a magical outdoor setting, delivered with the ideal blend of encouragement, creativity, and kindness. The Song School fee includes all instructional classes and activities in the schedule, a ticket for BaHOOTenzie! Folk Fest, eight specially prepared meals, space for tent or car camping during all five nights of BaHOOTenzie!, access to on-site showers and restrooms, three yoga classes, and much more. For complete details or to register for the BaHOOTenzie! Song School, please visit here.
Steve Poltz’s BaHOOTenzie! Song School and Folk Fest 2023
Joshua Tree Lake Campground, Joshua Tree, CA
May 2-4 (Song School) and 5-6 (Folk Fest)
Folk Fest Lineup
Steve Poltz
Keller Williams
Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket)
Rainbow Girls
Tim Bluhm (The Mother Hips)
Maya De Vitry
Amber Rubarth
Lisa Sanders
