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30th Anniversary project press release

Jul 7th, 2026
by Frank.
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BEN FOLDS CELEBRATES THREE DECADES OF BEN FOLDS FIVE

WITH SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY EDITION

CLASSIC DEBUT ALBUM FROM ICONIC ALT-ROCK TRIO NEWLY REMASTERED AND EXPANDED WITH PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SHELVED FIRST ATTEMPT FEATURING EARLY, ALTERNATE VERSIONS AND RARE OUTTAKES

“UNDERGROUND (SHELVED FIRST ATTEMPT)” PREMIERES TODAY – LISTEN

BEN FOLDS FIVE (30TH ANNIVERSARY) ARRIVES SEPTEMBER 4 VIA CAPITOL/UMe AT ALL DSPS AND ON 2CD AND 2LP VINYL

PRE-ORDERS/PRE-SAVES AVAILABLE NOW

Ben Folds is celebrating three decades in the spotlight with a very special anniversary edition of Ben Folds Five, the now-classic debut album from his iconic alt-rock trio. Ben Folds Five (30th Anniversary) – which, technically speaking, arrives 31 years after its original August 8, 1995 release – sees the groundbreaking original LP newly remastered and joined by the long-awaited, fan-requested un-vaulting of the band’s mythical shelved first attempt, only recently rediscovered on digital audio tape by Folds in his own personal archives and specially remastered for this release. (more…)

Chicago Symphony and National Symphony shows cancelled

May 30th, 2023
by Frank.
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Ben has also had to cancel the June 9 National Symphony “Declassified” show as well. The Kennedy Center will issue refunds.

(Following was posted earlier.)

From Ben’s Instagram:

Hi all,

My Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert for Tuesday May 30th cannot go on because I’ve tested positive for Covid. I’m disappointed as hell, and I apologize to all ticket holders and to the CSO. I was packed and ready to go.

All in all, I’m alright. I’m pretty washed out, but luckily not nearly as bad as we know this thing can sometimes be. So, I’ll stay in and do promo and interviews for the new album which comes out on June 2nd, and as soon as I get my happy negative test, I’ll be out there touring. I have no reason to think anything else will need to be cancelled, but I’ll keep you abreast.

Ben

Takeover Tuesdays: On politics

Oct 4th, 2022
by Frank.
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As we approach the consequential midterm elections in the US, Ben is turning his Facebook page over on Tuesdays to issues of politics. Every week he’s featuring a guest commentary to encourage fans (and everyone, really) to vote in our November 8 Congressional elections (and, in many states, local and statewide elections). Current commentaries come from his manager, Mike Kopp, a longtime political operative turned music manager, and Scott Goodstein, Mike’s blogging partner, who took the opposite course and transitioned from music to a career in politics. Both have tremendous insights into our political landscape and are worth paying attention to.

The bottom line in the effort is to excite everyone – especially young people – to pay attention to the candidates who want to serve as their representatives and to the issues on the ballot in their communities, and to register and vote in this fall’s election. The weekly commentaries are well worth the read, and will hopefully motivate you to get involved.

 

Doctor Ben

May 3rd, 2021
by Frank.
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Ben Folds – an alumnus of “one sad semester” at the University of Miami – will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree as he delivers the commencement address for the Schools of Architecture, Communication, Education and Human Development, Marine and Atmospheric Science, Nursing and Health Studies, and the Frost School of Music at the U on May 14.

Ben’s still in Australia, unable to travel because of restrictions imposed by the pandemic, but has recorded his address for presentation during the ceremony.

Best known for his piano work, his studies at UM were in percussion, where we earned a music scholarship but did not complete his studies. He returned to Miami in 2015 for a performance of his Concerto for Piano and Orchestra.

Cake Redux

Apr 18th, 2019
by Frank.
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Following last year’s acclaimed tour of the eastern US with Cake, Ben Folds is teaming up with the anti-grunge heroes for a co-headlining western states tour in September 2019. Kicking off in Bonner, Montana, adjacent to the college town of Missoula, the tour plays eleven gigs in seven states, wrapping up in the Dallas, Texas area.

“We had so much fun with Ben last summer that we decided to do it again, this time in the west,” said Cake frontman John McCrea. Calling them “masters and my friends,” Ben said he was happy to be on tour with the Sacramento-based band.

Cake are somewhat of a pillar of the ecology-smart movement. (more…)

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