Korean pop singer Younha, largely unknown in the West but a popular artist in Korea and Japan, is expected to join Ben on-stage at the upcoming show in Seoul on June 9th. A musician since age 4, Younha has achieved pop success in the last decade, first in Japan on the heels of her J-pop style music being used in kids’ animated television shows and video games, and later in her homeland of South Korea. Â (more…)
Younha said to be joining Ben in Korea
“Big Bang Boom” booked for Lollapalooza
Ben’s brother Chuck Folds and his Big Bang Boom bandmates Steve Williard and Eddie Walker (yes, that Eddie Walker) will be boppin’ across the generations at Lollapalooza 2011 in Chicago. The performance date and time aren’t set as of now but the festival takes place over the weekend of August 5-7 in the vast green expanses of the windy city’s Grant Park, which runs along Lake Michigan in front of the iconic Chicago skyline. (more…)
“The Sing-Off” to expand, add another judge
At the NBC Television Network’s Upfront (a presentation on fall programming for the affiliates) today, the network announced that its popular a cappella competition show The Sing-Off, which features Ben Folds on the panel of judges, will expand for its third season. (more…)
Folds covers Kesha song, for charity
Ordinarily, Ben covering another artist’s song, even in his inimitably parodistic style (e.g. B****es ain’t $#!+), doesn’t make news, but for some reason the entertainment press has picked up on his latest celebrity knockoff. This time, it’s the work of Kesha Rose Sebert, mononomically known as KE$HA, if you can call it “work”. (more…)
“8 in 8” album available for download
Now available for download 
is Nighty Night, the eight-track album recorded in a bit over eight hours on Monday, April 25 by Ben Folds, along with fellow musicians Damian Kulash and Amanda Palmer, and Amanda’s husband, writer and now lyricist Neil Gaiman. While webcasting the confab and taking suggestions from fans on Twitter, the quartet plunked away and produced tracks titled Nikola Tesla, One Tiny Thing, and Twelve Line Song. Proceeds from the sale of the album benefit the Berklee Music Network, which helps pay for music education for underprivileged youth in the Boston area. Update: Spin article on the session.
