Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Live Nation are offering a lucky fan a chance to attend a show and sing on stage with Ben during his sound check. The prize includes round-trip travel, accomodations, some spending money and premium tickets to the show. More details on MetLife’s Facebook page.
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Folds to perform for the President
Update: Item in the Huffington Post, with advice on avoiding the traffic snarls. Tickets sold out shortly after the event was announced.
Ben Folds will be one of the musical guests at a special gala reception for the President of the United States, Barack Obama, in New York on Thursday, March 1. The event, sponsored by Obama for America, is being organized by Deepak Chopra, Paulette Cole, Phil Suarez, Russell Simmons and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and is to be held at ABC Carpet and Home in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. Joining Ben will be the Philadelphia-based neo-soul band The Roots and actor Aziz Ansari of NBC’s Parks & Recreation. Tickets to the event are $1,000 per person; an event host designation is $10,000 and includes a photo reception with the President; and you can be an event chair for $35,800. The majority of the funds, of course, go to support the President’s re-election bid and the Democratic National Committee. Ben has played within a stone’s throw of the White House a number of times, but as far as I know, this is the first time he will have performed for the chief executive.
Not really a show, but worth a mention
Ben Folds will take the stage, not in a tutu but as a guest musician at the Ballet Ball, a glamorous black-tie affair to support the Nashville Ballet. The gala is Saturday, March 3 at the Schermerhorn Center in Nashville. Patrons who contribute $500 or more enjoy cocktails, dinner and a performance by the ballet, accompanied by Ben and The Civil Wars, a Nashville-based duo whose debut Americana/folk/alt-country album has been nominated for a Grammy. The gala is followed by an evening of music and dancing by the Pat Patrick Band. Tickets are also available at $95 to the Late Party, including cocktails and dessert while the high-rollers are dining, enjoy the performance and dance the night away. Get more information on the evening; tickets are on sale. (And who knows, knowing Ben, he just might wear a tutu after all.)
News on the reunited Ben Folds Five project
Ben Folds Five back in the studio
As you know, Ben Folds has reunited with his old bandmates Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge for a recording session, with the intention of releasing an album if things go well. Apparently, as you can see from the photo, things are going well – enough so, in fact, that not only is an album in the offing, but a tour as well. Dates and locations are being booked and firmed up, but expect to see an announcement shortly. They plan to continue recording into March, and then we’ll see what happens!
Update: The official schedule isn’t out yet but already one festival is announcing booking the reunited trio. Mountain Jam 2012, held in Hunter, N.Y. May 31-June 3, is promoting Ben Folds Five as one of its many acts. Tickets are already on sale.
Folds headlining Concert for Civility
Ben will be headlining the second annual Concert for Civility in Tucson, Arizona on January 15. The show is a major fundraiser for the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding, which was founded by the family of Ron Barber. Barber is the district director for US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and was among those shot during the incident on January 8 in which the representative was severely injured and six others were killed. The fund supports nonprofit groups, schools and faith communities in efforts to combat bullying, improve respective discourse on public policy and awareness of mental health issues. Donations may be made online.
The concert, at Tucson’s Fox Theatre, features several local acts including Calexico. Tickets go on sale today (November 18) and prices range from $30 to $75. The top tickets include a reception with Folds and Calexico.
Further info in this story in the Arizona Daily Star by Cathalena E. Burch.
