With his beaten-up three-string guitar, diddley bow and wooden stomp box, hobo
bluesman Steve Wold has become an unlikely cult star, charming the festival
crowds with ramshackle 12-bar boogie and heartfelt stories. He was born in
Oakland, California, on March 19, 1951. Leaving home at 13 to escape an abusive
step-father, he spent years sleeping rough, working for carnivals, hopping
freight trains and busking, before finally finding stardom in his sixties.
Launched into the mainstream by a memorable appearance on Jools Holland's
Hootenanny TV show on New Year's Eve 2006, he quickl...