Ben Folds News

Ben Folds is releasing a new single today. '2020' is his take on what he describes as a 'rollercoaster year.'

Barenaked Ladies announce the postponement of their extensive 2020 Last Summer On Earth tour of North America until 2021. The tour was originally set to kickoff next month in Florida. Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket will join Barenaked Ladies with the original lineup for the new dates next year.

Acting Assistant Principal Bassoon of the NSO Steven Wilson talks about one of his favorite moments from a Ben Folds Presents: DECLASSIFIED performance with Gaby Moreno.

Nashville Symphony's virtual program includes performances by orchestra musicians from their homes, lectures, and demonstrations by Symphony conductors, teaching tools, at-home education activities, archived concerts, and more.

Utah Symphony announced the postponement of the six-week, 19-concert Deer Valley® Music Festival in Park City after consulting with local community partners and Summit County health officials for precautions on public gatherings. For more information, visit deervalleymusicfestival.org.

Country legends David Nail and Little Texas headline Elm Street Cultural Arts Village's third outdoor concert season, The Lantern Series, as part of their 2020/2021 Season of Character.

Alternative rock band Guster announced the release of 'OMAGAH!: Live with the Omaha Symphony,' Friday, May 8. The album was recorded at the Holland Performing Arts Center during a live performance with the Omaha Symphony Friday, Feb. 8, 2019; this performance was presented in collaboration with Maha Festival.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra today announced that, due to ongoing restrictions from public health and government entities related to the coronavirus pandemic, and for its concerns for the health and safety concerns of its patrons, staff and musicians, it is implementing cost-saving measures, and that concerts currently scheduled through mid-June will now be cancelled or postponed.

In the past two decades, savvy classical music presenters have focused on evolving the art form - through cross-genre collaborations, new audience engagement, and demonstrating relevance to modern-day life.

Artist Relief Tree (ART), an online fundraiser supporting artists affected financially by COVID-19, announced today that it is beginning a second phase of fundraising toward US$1,000,000. Funds will be used to support artists of any discipline with a one-time 'solidarity' donation of US$250.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' first-ever Education Artist-in-Residence, Emmy Award®-winning writer and New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems, will launch an online video series that invites viewers to virtually join him in his studio for a LUNCH DOODLE every day for the next few weeks.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actor and director Michael Arden about Joni Mitchell's 1971 album 'Blue.' They also discuss Audra McDonald, Ricky Ian Gordon, 'Follies,' Alexandra Silber, Indigo Girls, Sara McLachlan, Shawn Colvin, 'The Phantom of the Opera,' Gillian Lynne, Ben Folds, Maggie Rogers, 'Lestat,' Robyn, and Jan Maxwell. Michael talks about discovering Joni and how her storytelling abilities influenced his own artistic career. Michael has appeared on Broadway in shows such as 'Big River and 'Bare, A Pop Opera.' He also directed the hit revivals of 'Spring Awakening' and 'Once On This Island.'

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' first-ever Education Artist-in-Residence, Emmy Awarda?"winning writer and New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems, will launch an online video series that invites viewers to virtually join him in his studio for a LUNCH DOODLE every day for the next few weeks.

DELANILA's forthcoming debut album, Overloaded, is set for release on April 3; preorder/pre-save the album HERE. DELANILA is the self-described cinematic experimental alternative project of multiple award-winning “notable cross-genre composer” (The New Yorker), performer and multimedia artist Danielle Eva Schwob, who has garnered international acclaim for her concert music, alt-rock songs and film scores.

Chelsea Williams has announced the May 8th release of her new album Beautiful and Strange, via Blue Elan Records. A testament to the Los Angeles singer/songwriter's catchy pop sensibilities, Beautiful and Strange also draws on her eclectic musical palette with hints of roots, jazz and psychedelia. The album's debut single “Red Flag” perfectly evokes the frenzied, caution-to-the-wind intensity of new love.

Deer Valley Music Festival Principal Conductor Conner Gray Covington and Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO) Interim President & CEO Patricia A. Richards today announced the lineup for the Utah Symphony's 2020 Deer Valley Music Festival in Park City, Utah. The six-week, 19-concert music festival begins on Friday, July 3, 2020 and runs through Wednesday, August 12, 2020. Subscriptions, group and VIP tickets are on sale now. Single-concert tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 12 PM (MDT) at deervalleymusicfestival.org, 801-533-NOTE (801-533-6683) and through ArtTix outlets.

The music video for “The Philospher,” the new single by self-described cinematic experimental alternative project DELANILA, is out today and may be streamed and shared. The video premiered at Clash, who called it a “crisp, seismic slice of pop-edged songwriting, but one that comes complete with a black, black heart.”“The Philosopher” comes from DELANILA's upcoming debut album Overloaded, set for release on April 3 on her own label, ZYG ZYG Records.

Following a highly competitive negotiation, HBO Max has announced an exclusive, multi-year deal with beloved children's author Mo Willems, an Emmy®-Award winning writer, New York Times best-selling author, and illustrator, establishing Willems as HBO Max's very first artist in residence. As part of this two-year deal, HBO Max has acquired streaming rights to Willems' first live-action special Don't Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! from Greg Silverman's media company Stampede Ventures who will produce all additional content under this deal. HBO Max has committed to additional live-action Storytime specials, as well as multiple animated specials based on Willems' wildly popular children's books. The first animated special will be based on New York Times Best Seller, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.

Some bands you can always recognize--they produce the same sound, even the same song, year after year. But great musicians don't just keep playing, they constantly evolve. Aloud's new record, Sprezzatura, out on May 8th via Lemon Merchant Records is a showcase for a band joyfully shedding the old and moving boldly forward, both sonically and lyrically. 

Sheila Heti's critically acclaimed, best-selling novel, MOTHERHOOD, has been optioned for a stage adaptation by New Light Theater Project and Executive Producer Ben Folds. THIS WRESTLING PLACE, the play will be adapted and directed by Sarah Norris with original music and movement by Emma Sandall.