ben folds paper airplane tour

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Ben Folds to Reprise His “Paper Airplane Request Tour” on Massive 2024 Tour [Updated]

The 74-date trek will feature the opportunity for fans to request songs by throwing paper airplanes

Ben Folds is calling for those paper airplane song requests once again. The musician will embark on a massive US tour throughout 2024, and attendees will have the chance to request songs via throwing a paper airplane at him during the show.

Ben Folds initially embarked on his first “Paper Airplane Request Tour” in 2017, where he’d randomly select fan-requested songs from paper airplanes and perform them solo. His new US tour will feature the same concept, as he explains in statement: “The last time I did this on tour the response was overwhelming, with literally hundreds of paper airplanes with song requests being launched on cue from fans at the start of the second half of each of my concerts. It’s the purest, most low-tech form of engagement that creates a special bond with my audiences.”

Get Ben Folds Tickets Here

Spanning a total of 74 shows, the tour kicks off with a summer leg beginning on May 30th in Charleston, South Carolina, with dates taking place through the middle of August. A newly announced fall leg commences in mid-September and includes shows in Reno, Los Angeles, Tucson, St. Paul, Des Moines, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Orlando, Houston, Austin, Dallas, and more.

A ticket pre-sale for Folds’ newly announced tour dates taking place between September and December is set for Thursday, May 2nd via Ticketmaster (use code SOUNDCHECK ), with a general on-sale following on Friday, May 3rd.

Check out Folds’ full, updated tour schedule below, and get tickets to all of his upcoming shows here .

Ben Folds’ last album was 2023’s  What Matters Most . Revisit Ben Folds’ Crate Digging entry from last year, where he discussed 10 Piano Records Everyone Should Own .

Ben Folds 2024 Tour Dates: 05/30 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall 05/31 – Augusta, GA @ Bell Auditorium 06/01 – Peachtree City, GA @ The Fred 06/02 – Pelham, TN @ The Caverns 06/04 – Charlotte, NC @ Belk Theater 06/06 – Savannah, GA @ District Live 06/07 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Sandler Center for the Performing Arts 06/08 – Rocky Mount, VA @ Harvester Performance Center 06/09 – Pittsburgh, PA @ 3 Rivers Arts Festival 06/11 – Richmond, VA @ Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden 06/21 – Lowell, MA @ Lowell Summer Music Series 06/22 – Great Barrington, MA @ The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center 06/23 – Hammondsport, NY @ Point of the Bluff Concert Pavilion 06/25 – Kent, OH @ The Kent Stage 06/27 – Toledo, OH @ Peristyle Theater 06/28 – Petoskey, MI @ Bay View John M. Hall Auditorium 06/29 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Kalamazoo State Theatre 07/12 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Ballroom 07/13 – Plymouth, MA @ Plymouth Memorial Hall 07/14 – Westhampton Beach, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center 07/16 – Nashville, IN @ Brown County Music Center 07/17 – Lexington, KY @ Lexington Opera House 07/18 – Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre 07/20 – Wilmington, NC @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater 07/21 – Charlottesville, VA @ Ting Pavilion 07/30 – Boise, ID @ Morrison Center 07/31 – Layton, UT @ Edward. A Kenley Centennial Amphitheater 08/02 – Steamboat Springs, CO @ Strings Music Pavilion 08/05 – Boulder, CO @ Chautauqua Auditorium 08/06 – Beaver Creek, CO @ Vilar Performing Arts Center 08/07 – Pueblo, CO @ Pueblo Memorial Hall 08/08 – Amarillo, TX @ Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts 08/10 – Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion 08/11 – Des Moines, IA @ Hoyt Sherman Place 08/13 – Davenport, IA @ Capitol Theatre 08/15 – Bloomington, IL @ Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts 08/17 – Springfield, MO @ Gillioz Theatre 08/18 – St. Louis, MO @ The Factory 09/10 – Idaho Falls, ID @ Colonial Theater 09/11 – Orem, UT @ Noorda Center for the Performing Arts 09/13 – Reno, NV @ Grand Theatre at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino 09/14 – Monterey, CA @ Golden State Theatre 09/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern 09/17 – Tucson, AZ @ Fox Tucson Theatre 09/18 – Scottsdale, AZ @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts 09/19 – San Diego, CA @ Epstein Family Amphitheater 09/24 – Salem, OR @ Elsinore Theatre 09/25 – Olympia, WA @ Washington Center for the Performing Arts 09/27 – Bremerton, WA @ Venue TBA 09/28 – Bellingham, WA @ Mount Baker Theatre 09/29 – Tacoma, WA @ Venue TBA 10/04 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Washington Pavilion 10/05 – Duluth, MN @ DECC Symphony Hall 10/06 – St. Paul, MN @ Ordway Music Theatre 10/08 – Wausau, WI @ Frand Theater 10/09 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theater 10/10 – Carmel, IN @ The Palladium – The Center for the Performing Arts 10/12 – Des Plaines, IL @ The Event Center at Rivers Casino 10/13 – Fort Wayne, IN @ The Clyde Theatre 10/15 – Midland, MI @ Midland Center for the Arts 10/17 – Johnson City, TN @ ETSU Martin Center for the Arts 11/07 – Buffalo, NY @ University at Buffalo Center for the Arts 11/12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount Theater 11/13 – Morristown, NJ @ Mayo Performing Arts Center 11/15 – York, PA @ Appell Center for the Performing Arts 11/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Penn Live Arts/Anneberg Center for the Performing Arts 11/17 – Raleigh, NC @ Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts 11/19 – Winston-Salem, NC @ The Ramkat 11/22 – Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live 11/23 – Tampa, FL @ David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts – Ferguson Hall 11/24 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ The Parker 12/10 – Houston, TX @ Jones Hall 12/11 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater 12/12 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre 12/14 – Fayetteville, AR @ Walton Arts Center 12/15 – Shreveport, LA @ TBA

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Ben folds to reprise his "paper airplane request tour" on massive 2024 tour [updated].

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Ben folds: paper airplane request tour.

About the Show

Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation. The Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five , multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

For the past three decades, he’s toured as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras. A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, Ben also composes for film, tv and theatre, guest stars in films and TV, and serves as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Ben launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled “ Keys For Kids ,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he’s active as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

Lindsey Kraft is a multi-faceted artist – actress, singer, and composer. You may recognize her from various TV roles including Netflix’s  Grace and Frankie , HBO’s  Getting On  and most recently Netflix’s  Obliterated .

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Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour

Ben folds to perform at the ub center for the arts on nov. 7.

By CAS Staff

Release Date: May 1, 2024

Emmy-nominated, multi-platinum selling musician and composer Ben Folds announced the return of his popular “ Paper Airplane Request Tour ”, performing solo shows across the U.S. including a stop this fall at The University at Buffalo Center for the Arts on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.  

Tickets for this show go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 3 at ubcfa.org , Ticketmaster or in person at the Center for the Arts Ticket Office. Visit benfolds.com for more information.

What initially began years ago as a request for songs as encores will once again be a central element in Folds’ shows when he engages audiences to make their song requests via paper airplanes. “The last time I did this on tour the response was overwhelming, with literally hundreds of paper airplanes with song requests being launched on cue from fans at the start of the second half of each of my concerts,” says Folds. “It’s the purest, most low-tech form of engagement that creates a special bond with my audiences.”

Folds has been making wildly popular pop and contemporary music for the last three decades, performing all over the world with his band Ben Folds Five, as a solo performer and with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. among a multitude of other places and collaborations.

Folds, who released his most recent album “What Matters Most” to critical acclaim, has been in studio in recent months working on his first holiday album targeted for release later this year. He’ll also be featured in a special PBS broadcast this spring that spotlights his ongoing “Declassified: Ben Folds Presents” concert series he curates as Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Folds launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled "Keys For Kids," which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he's active as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

Tickets are $50, $60, $70 or $90. For more ticket information call 716-645-2787 or [email protected] . The ticket office will open at 10 a.m. this Friday and will resume normal hours Tuesday through Friday from 12–6 p.m.

For performance information contact Jamie Enser, Center for the Arts at 716-645-6254 or [email protected] .

For additional information on upcoming shows, to buy tickets, or view the full schedule of programs and activities in the UB Center for the Arts, visit the events and exhibitions web page .

Connect with Ben Folds

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Media Contact Information

Gina Cali-Misterkiewicz Assistant Dean for Marketing and Communications College of Arts and Sciences 716-645-0755 [email protected]

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Ben Folds Announces Paper Airplane Request Tour in 2024

by Em Casalena March 7, 2024, 9:24 am

Indie star Ben Folds is reprising The Paper Airplane Request Tour with a 21-date trip across the United States, and this isn’t going to be your run-of-the-music concert series. Back in 2017, Folds originally kicked off his first Paper Airplane Request Tour, during which he encouraged fans to send song requests to the stage via paper airplanes. The concept was loved by fans, so Folds is going to bring it back. At this time, it looks like Folds will be flying solo and no supporting acts will be added to the tour.

Videos by American Songwriter

The upcoming Ben Folds 2024 Tour will start on May 30 in Charleston, South Carolina at the Charleston Music Hall. The tour will end on August 6 in Beaver Creek, Colorado at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ben Folds (@actualbenfolds)

In a press release for the tour, Folds talked about how the concept for the Paper Airplanes Request Tour is a major deviation from tech-driven music engagement: “The last time I did this on tour the response was overwhelming, with literally hundreds of paper airplanes with song requests being launched on cue from fans at the start of the second half of each of my concerts. It’s the purest, most low-tech form of engagement that creates a special bond with my audiences.”

Tickets will go on general sale on March 8 at 10:00 am local via Ticketmaster and Stubhub . We recommend using Stubhub since the platform is backed by the FanProtect Guarantee, which ensures that you won’t have to worry about scams, fraud, or fake tickets.

Tickets to this exciting tour won’t last, as fans have been asking for it for years now. Get your tickets quickly , before they sell out!

Ben Folds 2024 Tour Dates

May 30 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall

May 31 – Augusta, GA – Bell Auditorium

June 1 – Peachtree City, GA – The Fred

June 2 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns

June 4 – Charlotte, NC – Belk Theater

June 6 – Savannah, GA – District Live

June 7 – Virginia Beach, VA – Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

June 8 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center

June 9 – Pittsburgh, PA – 3 Rivers Arts Festival

June 11 – Richmond, VA – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

June 21 – Lowell, MA – Lowell Summer Music Series

June 22 – Great Barrington, MA – The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

June 23 – Hammondsport, NY – Point of the Bluff Concert Pavilion

June 25 – Kent, OH – The Kent Stage

June 27 – Toledo, OH – Peristyle Theater

June 28 – Petoskey, MI – Bay View John M. Hall Auditorium

June 29 – Kalamazoo, MI – Kalamazoo State Theatre

July 30 – Boise, ID – Morrison Center

August 02 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Strings Music Pavilion

August 05 – Boulder, CO – Chautauqua Auditorium

August 06 – Beaver Creek, CO – Vilar Performing Arts Center

Photo by Alysse Gafkjen

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Taking a Closer Look at Paul McCartney’s Sneaky Great Late-Period Album ‘Chaos and Creation in the Backyard’

How Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Became the “Anchor” for Jelly Roll’s Success: “He’s Really Been With Me From the Beginning”

© 2024 American Songwriter

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Ben Folds - Paper Airplane Request Tour

With special guest lindsey kraft.

Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.

He's created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

He tours as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras, and currently serving as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

An Emmy-nominated composer, Folds is also a New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, and frequently guest stars in film and TV.

An advocate for the arts, he serves on the Board of the Arts Action Fund, Planet Word and the Nashville Symphony, and has launched a music education initiative for kids in his home state of North Carolina.

Ben Folds initially embarked on his first “Paper Airplane Request Tour” in 2017, where he’d randomly select fan-requested songs from paper airplanes and perform them solo. The new US tour will feature the same concept, and will be Ben Folds’ first shows of 2024. “The last time I did this on tour the response was overwhelming, with literally hundreds of paper airplanes with song requests being launched on cue from fans at the start of the second half of each of my concerts,” said Folds in a statement. “It’s the purest, most low-tech form of engagement that creates a special bond with my audiences.”

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Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour

Widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation, Ben Folds has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records. In this solo concert, Folds encourages fans to send their song requests to the stage via paper airplanes.

The Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

For the past three decades, he’s toured as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras.

A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, Ben also composes for film, tv and theatre, guest stars in films and TV, and serves as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Ben launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled “Keys For Kids,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he’s active as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

LINDSEY KRAFT

Lindsey Kraft is a multi-faceted artist – actress, singer, and composer. You may recognize her from various TV roles including Netflix’s  Grace and Frankie , HBO’s  Getting On  and most recently Netflix’s  Obliterated .

She continues as the opening act for Ben Folds ,  where she’ll be performing her brand of theatrical pop songs including songs from her musical, “love, me,” a one-woman show workshopped recently in LA for a LIVE album produced by Linda Perry. During an opening performance for Ben at the Kennedy Center in 2023, she received a glowing review by DC Music Review which wrote that the audience “was treated and transfixed by the performance of Lindsey Kraft. Within the first few moments of her piece, concertgoers realized how perfect the pairing was. A burgeoning newcomer to musical performances, Kraft, in addition to her brilliant piano playing and songs, masterfully interacted with and entertained the audience with her witty and sincere songs.”

She characterizes her songs as deeply personal, funny, and sad, her sound inspired by Carly Simon, Carole King, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Randy Newman, and Broadway (but like, only the good shows).

Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour Lindsey Kraft Widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation, Ben Folds has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records. In this solo concert, Folds encourages fans to send their song requests to the stage via paper airplanes. Tickets: $59 - $109 Wed Nov 13, 2024 @ 7:30 pm Wed Nov 13, 2024 @ 7:30 pm VIP Packages Ben Folds VIP packages available for purchase HERE . Note: You must purchase a ticket to our concert on our website in order to purchase the VIP package. VIP Pre-Check with Photo Op: Meet & greet with photo opportunity with Ben Folds Private pre-show soundcheck access Exclusive VIP only merchandise gift On-site concert host Crowd-free merchandise shopping Rock This Soundcheck Experience: Private pre-show soundcheck access Exclusive VIP only merchandise gift On-site concert host Crowd-free merchandise shopping Ben Folds Official Website Facebook Event Add to Calendar Nov 13, 2024 @ 7:30 PM Share It Plan Your Visit Seating Chart Group Tickets Accessibility Please Note Ticket buyer and members of the ticket buyer’s party agree to observe and obey all instructions, warnings, or other requirements provided in advance of the event and on site. Please note that current conditions / regulations / guidelines are subject to change based on the status / situation known at the time, and that individual artists may impose their own restrictions. Venue Policies Related Shows

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Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour

August 11, 2024 | 7:30 pm.

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with special guest Lindsey Kraft

Reserved Seating: $50.50, $60, $70, $96

$1.00 from every ticket sold will be donated to Ben Folds’ Charity, Keys For Kids.

Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation. The Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

For the past three decades, he’s toured as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras.

A New York Times best-selling author and podcast host, Ben also composes for film, TV, and theatre, guest stars in films and TV, and serves as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Ben launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled “Keys For Kids,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he’s active as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

Lindsey Kraft is a multi-faceted artist – actress, singer, and composer. You may recognize her from various TV roles including Netflix’s Grace and Frankie , HBO’s Getting On and most recently Netflix’s Obliterated .

Kraft continues as the opening act for Ben Folds, where she’ll be performing her brand of theatrical pop songs including songs from her musical, “love, me,” a one-woman show workshopped recently in LA for a LIVE album. During an opening performance for Ben at the Kennedy Center in 2023, she received a glowing review by DC Music Review which wrote that the audience “was treated and transfixed by the performance of Lindsey Kraft. Within the first few moments of her piece, concertgoers realized how perfect the pairing was. A burgeoning newcomer to musical performances, Kraft, in addition to her brilliant piano playing and songs, masterfully interacted with and entertained the audience with her witty and sincere songs.”

Lindsey characterizes her songs as deeply personal, funny, and sad, her sound inspired by Carly Simon, Carole King, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Randy Newman, and Broadway (but like, only the good shows).

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404 S. Burdick, Kalamazoo, MI 49007   269-345-6500

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Ben Folds — Paper Airplane Request Tour WSG Lindsey Kraft

DOORS: 7PM | SHOW: 8PM

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• All bags and purses must be under 8″ x 5″ x 2″ –  Click for more details

Doors: 7 PM | Show: 8 PM

Buy Tickets   HERE

The Kalamazoo State Theatre is excited to announce the return of Ben Folds with his Paper Airplane Request Tour on Saturday, June 29 . Tickets go on sale Friday, March 8, at 10AM. An online-only local presale takes place on March 7, starting at 10AM.

About Ben Folds

Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.

He’s created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

He tours as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras, and currently serving as the first ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, frequently guest stars in film and TV, and recently earned an Emmy nomination for his composition of a new theme song for a popular Peanuts TV special.

An advocate for the arts, he serves on the Board of the Arts Action Fund, Planet Word and the Nashville Symphony, and has launched a music education initiative for kids in his home state of North Carolina.

About Lindsey Kraft

Lindsey Kraft is a multi-faceted artist – actress, singer, and composer. You may recognize her from various TV roles including Netflix’s  Grace and Frankie , HBO’s  Getting On  and most recently Netflix’s  Obliterated .

She continues as the opening act for Ben Folds ,  where she’ll be performing her brand of theatrical pop songs including songs from her musical, “love, me,” a one-woman show workshopped recently in LA for a LIVE album.  During an opening performance for Ben at the Kennedy Center in 2023, she received a glowing review by DC Music Review which wrote that the audience “was treated and transfixed by the performance of Lindsey Kraft. Within the first few moments of her piece, concertgoers realized how perfect the pairing was. A burgeoning newcomer to musical performances, Kraft, in addition to her brilliant piano playing and songs, masterfully interacted with and entertained the audience with her witty and sincere songs.”

She characterizes her songs as deeply personal, funny, and sad, her sound inspired by Carly Simon, Carole King, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Randy Newman, and Broadway (but like, only the good shows).

DIG DEEPER:

Check out this playlist featuring some of our favorite Ben Folds songs, including tracks from his time with Ben Folds Five, that iconic live album, and more.

Ticket Information

Mark your calendars! Tickets will be available starting on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM EST. With prices ranging from $56 to $96. There are also VIP opportunities as well.

• Public Onsale: Friday, March 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM EST
• Ticket Prices: $56.00 – $96.00 (Reserved Seating)
• Day of show Prices: $61-$101 (Reserved Seating)
• VIP options available.
• Platinum Seats: Available in limited quantities

All ages are welcome for this event. There is a 6 ticket limit per purchase.

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Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour

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Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour

• Date July 18 , 2024
• Event Starts 7:30 PM
• Doors Open One hour before showtime
• On Sale On Sale Now
• Thursday, July 18 7:30 PM Tickets

Event Details

Fans during each of the shows will be invited to launch their song requests to the stage via paper airplanes.

Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.

The Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

For the past three decades, he's toured as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world's greatest symphony orchestras.

A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, Ben also composes for film, tv and theatre, guest stars in films and TV, and serves as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Ben launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled "Keys For Kids," which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he's active as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

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Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour

With special guest lindsey kraft.

• Date July 16 , 2024
• Event Starts 7:30 PM
• Availability On Sale Now
• July  16 , 2024 Tuesday 7:30 PM Buy Tickets

Event Details

Emmy-nominated, multi-platinum selling music artist Ben Folds announces the return of his popular “Paper Airplane Request Tour,” performing solo shows across the U.S. including a stop at the Brown County Music Center in Nashville, Ind., on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. 

What initially began years ago as a request for songs as encores will once again be a central element in Folds’ shows when he engages audiences to make their song requests via paper airplanes. “The last time I did this on tour the response was overwhelming, with literally hundreds of paper airplanes with song requests being launched on cue from fans at the start of the second half of each of my concerts,” said Folds. “It’s the purest, most low-tech form of engagement that creates a special bond with my audiences.”

Folds, who released his most recent album “What Matters Most” to critical acclaim, has been in studio in recent months working on his first holiday album targeted for release later this year. He’ll also be featured in a special PBS broadcast this spring that spotlights his ongoing “Declassified: Ben Folds Presents” concert series he curates as Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.  

About Ben Folds: Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation. The Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records. For the past three decades, he’s toured as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras. A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, Ben also composes for film, tv and theatre, guest stars in films and TV, and is in his seventh year serving as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC. A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Ben launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled “Keys For Kids,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he’s active as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

ABOUT LINDSEY KRAFT: Lindsey Kraft is a multi-faceted artist - actress, singer, and composer. You may recognize her from various TV roles including Netflix's  Grace and Frankie , HBO's  Getting On  and most recently Netflix's  Obliterated .

She continues as the opening act for Ben Folds ,  where she'll be performing her brand of theatrical pop songs including songs from her musical, “love, me,” a one-woman show workshopped recently in LA for a LIVE album.  During an opening performance for Ben at the Kennedy Center in 2023, she received a glowing review by DC Music Review which wrote that the audience "was treated and transfixed by the performance of Lindsey Kraft. Within the first few moments of her piece, concertgoers realized how perfect the pairing was. A burgeoning newcomer to musical performances, Kraft, in addition to her brilliant piano playing and songs, masterfully interacted with and entertained the audience with her witty and sincere songs."

She characterizes her songs as deeply personal, funny, and sad, her sound inspired by Carly Simon, Carole King, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Randy Newman, and Broadway (but like, only the good shows). 

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Jun 14, 2024

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Ben Folds - Paper Airplane Request Tour 700 E Main St Charlottesville, VA 22902

Ben Folds - Paper Airplane Request Tour

July 21 7:00 PM

Ting Pavilion

700 E Main St Charlottesville, VA 22902

• Admission: $0.00
• Contact: Nathan Leslie
• Email: [email protected]

Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.

He's created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

He tours as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world's greatest symphony orchestras, and currently serving as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

An Emmy-nominated composer, Folds is also a New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, and frequently guest stars in film and TV.

An advocate for the arts, he serves on the Board of the Arts Action Fund, Planet Word and the Nashville Symphony, and has launched a music education initiative for kids in his home state of North Carolina.

Ben Folds initially embarked on his first "Paper Airplane Request Tour" in 2017, where he'd randomly select fan-requested songs from paper airplanes and perform them solo. The new US tour will feature the same concept, and will be Ben Folds' first shows of 2024. "The last time I did this on tour the response was overwhelming, with literally hundreds of paper airplanes with song requests being launched on cue from fans at the start of the second half of each of my concerts," said Folds in a statement. "It's the purest, most low-tech form of engagement that creates a special bond with my audiences."

700 East Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 (434) 245-4910 Website

Ting Pavilion 700 East Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia 22902

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Ben Folds · Paper Airplane Request Tour

With support from lindsey kraft.

Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.

The Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

For the past three decades, he’s toured as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras.

A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, Ben also composes for film, tv and theatre, guest stars in films and TV, and serves as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Ben launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled “Keys For Kids,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he’s active as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Lindsey Kraft is a multi-faceted artist – actress, singer, and composer. You may recognize her from various TV roles including Netflix’s  Grace and Frankie , HBO’s  Getting On  and most recently Netflix’s  Obliterated .

She continues as the opening act for Ben Folds , Read More where she’ll be performing her brand of theatrical pop songs including songs from her musical, “love, me,” a one-woman show workshopped recently in LA for a LIVE album.  During an opening performance for Ben at the Kennedy Center in 2023, she received a glowing review by DC Music Review which wrote that the audience “was treated and transfixed by the performance of Lindsey Kraft. Within the first few moments of her piece, concertgoers realized how perfect the pairing was. A burgeoning newcomer to musical performances, Kraft, in addition to her brilliant piano playing and songs, masterfully interacted with and entertained the audience with her witty and sincere songs.”

She characterizes her songs as deeply personal, funny, and sad, her sound inspired by Carly Simon, Carole King, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Randy Newman, and Broadway (but like, only the good shows). 

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This event is presented by the Fox Tucson Theatre

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• All setlist songs  ( 1359 )

Years on tour

• 2024  ( 19 )
• 2023  ( 79 )
• 2022  ( 29 )
• 2021  ( 23 )
• 2020  ( 28 )
• 2019  ( 56 )
• 2018  ( 64 )
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• 2005  ( 102 )
• 2004  ( 44 )
• 2003  ( 69 )
• 2002  ( 85 )
• 2001  ( 64 )

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• A Dream About Lightning Bugs : In Conversation  ( 4 )
• A Piano & A Playpen  ( 27 )
• An Evening with CAKE and Ben Folds  ( 21 )
• Apartment Requests  ( 14 )
• BFD Tour  ( 1 )
• Bearded Heart Tour  ( 17 )
• Ben Folds & yMusic  ( 50 )
• Ben Folds College Tour  ( 1 )
• Ben Folds Fall Tour 2009  ( 1 )
• Ben Folds Here It Is: A Tribute To Leonard Cohen  ( 1 )
• Ben Folds Live 2015  ( 1 )
• Ben Folds Live Solo  ( 4 )
• Ben Folds Paper Airplane Request Tour (2024)  ( 10 )
• Ben Folds and A Piano  ( 50 )
• Ben Folds/Guster/Rufus Wainwright  ( 5 )
• Ben Folds: In Actual Person Live for Real Tour  ( 14 )
• Ben Folds: The Symphonic Tour  ( 5 )
• Dingoes Ate My Band  ( 2 )
• Fall Tour 2009  ( 1 )
• Lonely Avenue  ( 71 )
• Lottapianos Tour  ( 13 )
• November Surprise Tour  ( 12 )
• Odd Men Out  ( 20 )
• Paper Airplane Request Tour  ( 60 )
• Primal Smirk  ( 6 )
• Rockin' the Suburbs  ( 27 )
• Songs for Silverman Tour  ( 15 )
• Supersunnyspeedgraphic LP  ( 2 )
• The Ben Folds Orchestra Experience  ( 10 )
• The Ben Folds Orchestral Experience with Royal Northern Sinfonia  ( 4 )
• The Ben Folds Orchestral Experience with the Scottish Festival Orchestra  ( 1 )
• The Offical US Tour Fall 2009  ( 1 )
• The Symphonic Tour  ( 12 )
• Way To Normal  ( 28 )
• What Matters Most Tour  ( 61 )
• Avg Setlist
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Average setlist for tour: Paper Airplane Request Tour

Note: only considered 52 of 60 setlists (ignored empty and strikingly short setlists)

• Phone in a Pool Play Video
• Annie Waits Play Video
• Uncle Walter ( Ben Folds Five  song) Play Video
• Bastard Play Video
• So There Play Video
• Still Fighting It Play Video
• Landed Play Video
• Capable of Anything Play Video
• Not a Fan Play Video
• You Don't Know Me Play Video
• Steven's Last Night in Town ( Ben Folds Five  song) Play Video
• Drum Solo Play Video
• Effington Play Video
• Rock This Bitch Play Video
• Zak and Sara Play Video
• Kate ( Ben Folds Five  song) Play Video
• The Luckiest Play Video
• Gracie Play Video
• Brick ( Ben Folds Five  song) Play Video
• Not the Same Play Video
• Rockin' the Suburbs Play Video
• One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces ( Ben Folds Five  song) Play Video
• Army ( Ben Folds Five  song) Play Video

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Ben Folds caps off Three Rivers Arts Festival on a high note

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Review: People & paper everywhere as Ben Folds entertains arts festival crowd

P ITTSBURGH ― A crowd estimated at more than 7,000 packed Fort Duquesne Boulevard on Sunday night to watch Ben Folds close out the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival with wit, substance and piano-powered alternative-rock style.

"Let's hear Pittsburgh's largest chorus," Folds said before "Not The Same," one of several instances where fans seated in personal folding chairs or atop concrete barriers, or simply standing on the street, sang along loudly. At one point, Folds expertly orchestrated them in a three-part harmony singalong.

Acknowledging a mild and brief rainfall that weather experts had failed to predict, Folds tacked "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" onto the end of "Sentimental Guy."

Alone on stage playing piano the whole show, Folds' first batch of songs were sometimes too soft to properly hear if you weren't among the throng wedged closely to the stage. The location of his Steinway piano, set back 15 feet or so from the front edge of the stage, also made sight lines tricky for fans hoping to get at least a side-stage view. Some spectators audibly longed for the festival's 2010s location in wider Point State Park.

Folds kicked up the volume and hit full stride about seven songs in when he began the "Paper Airplane Request" portion of his show, where fans write the title of a song they want to hear on a piece of paper then fling it on stage paper airplane mode. Since the arts fest stage wasn't a cozy theater setting, like the rest of his tour, Folds relaxed the rules and allowed any form of paper − even crushed-up paper balls, as long as there was a song title.

Fans quickly flooded the stage with paper, with some requesters shrewd enough to include their name for Folds to say out loud. For unsigned requests, Folds opted for "Billy," after learning that was the name of a front-row spectator.

The upshot of fan requests: Obvious choices, like Folds' crossover hit "Brick" and his rollicking alt-rock ditty "Army," both appeared earlier than normal in the set. "Brick" demonstrated how Folds' high-reaching voice remains in fine form. His piano playing − both pretty and flashy depending on the need − got more percussive as the show progressed.

He showed his dry, quirky humor is intact, too, as when he introduced "Phone in a Pool" by relaying the story of how he once chucked his phone into a hotel swimming pool out of frustration at the precise random moment when paparazzi-fleeing pop star Kesha happened by. She gave Folds the helpful advice to put his phone in a jar of uncooked rice to help it dry.

Folds tenderly sang the sweet love song "The Luckiest" then moments later went back to digging through sheets of paper strewn on stage, pulling from the pile a request for "Rock This B----," a song snippet from a 2005 live album he likes to tailor fit for whatever city he's playing. Folds brought on stage singer Lindsay Craft, the support act on his tour, to have her help improvise a Pittsburgh song. She off-the-cuff suggested singing about Pittsburgh's three rivers, admitting she didn't readily know all three names. Fans heeded Craft's suggestion to shout out the names of each river in alphabetical order, which she and Folds then loosely crafted into a lively, unpolished song that mainly name-dropped the Ohio.

Folds encored robustly with "Rockin' The Suburbs," the title track from his 2001 album, prefaced with his comments on how thrilled he was to see all the smiling faces in the crowd. He wondered aloud why musicians like him were so sullen in the 1990s.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Review: People & paper everywhere as Ben Folds entertains arts festival crowd

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Scott Tady: Arts Fest improves stage layout; Steel Zeppelin, Slappers N Bangers entertain

Sugar hill gang, ben folds will entertain from new downtown pittsburgh stage.

The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival ends this weekend, so there's still time to catch a cool show from the new-and-improved main stage location.

Tonight's headliner, Doom Flamingo from Charleston, S.C., is touted for its mix of "'Top Gun' guitar riffs and Miami Beach poolside lounge-vibes, contrasted with dark synth sounds reminiscent of old John Carpenter films."

On Saturday, hip-hop pioneers The Sugarhill Gang & The Furious Five entertain on the main stage, with piano-playing alt-rocker Ben Folds performing there Sunday. Shows start at 7:30 p.m.

Sugarhill Gang, which introduced hip hop to the mainstream with 1979's "Rapper's Delight," features original members Wonder Mike and Master Gee.

Folds brings to town his Paper Airplane Request Tour, where fans are encouraged to write down their song requests on pieces of paper they then fold up and fling onto the stage in paper airplane fashion.

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At least it's easier now to get close to the festival stage, which was relocated this year to the corner of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Ninth Street, at the downtown side of the Rachel Carson Bridge.

I attended last Saturday's show there by Los Lonely Boys and thoroughly enjoyed the new layout.

There's much more spectator space compared to last year, when concertgoers were confined to a parklet and a westbound traffic lane near the Roberto Clemente Bridge, or the year before that, when the main stage was plopped down on the congested corner of Ninth Street and Penn Avenue.

I also like how the festival's new footprint includes artist vendor tents set up on the Rachel Carson Bridge, offering a great view of the city. Award-winning Aliquippa artist Marlon Gist was among the artists there last weekend.

More: Beaver Falls gallery welcomes Aliquippa artist Marlon Gist’s 'Underground Railroad' series

The festival's new layout also has turned the Backyard at 8th & Penn area into a less crowded oasis where last Saturday night, at least, there were no lines at the portable potties, only a few people at the mobile bar, and unoccupied chairs where festivalgoers could rest their feet.

The Backyard was pretty empty when Los Lonely Boys took the stage, as live music fans didn't want to miss what turned out to be a fabulous performance by the self-described "Texican Rock 'n' Roll" trio.

Siblings Henry Garza (vocals, guitar), Jojo Garza (bass, vocals), and Ringo Garza (drums) rocked out, for sure, with an unmistakable blues influence on songs like "Cottonfields and Crossroads" inspired by their native San Angelo, Texas. Henry's fiery, flashy guitar work ignited covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Born on the Bayou" and Spencer Davis Group's "I'm a Man."

At one point, Jojo set aside his bass and wrapped his hands around the neck of Henry's guitar, as the two of them simultaneously played a four-handed solo.

The obvious encore pick was very much welcomed, as the sunny pop rays of "Heaven," 2004's Grammy-winning, Gold-certified smash, gave the attentive audience a chance to sway to the melody and capture the moment on cellphone videos.

Elmoz Fire adds singer

With 42 gigs booked from now to the end of the year, Elmoz Fire qualifies as one of the Beaver Valley's hardest-working bands.

Perpetually in-demand for its upbeat mix of funk, disco and Top-40 dance tunes, Elmoz Fire recently added a notable new vocalist, Dena Miller, formerly of bands like Hat Trick and Sidewinder.

You can catch Miller and Elmoz Fire bandmates Den Triv (guitar/vocals), Ray DeLisio (vocals), Gary Honneffer (keys/vocals) and Tim Morabito (drums) on June 12 at the Wander Ellwood Festival in downtown Ellwood City; June 21 at Mario's 410 Grille in Bridgewater; June 22 at the Swiss Chalet in Geneva on the Lake, Ohio and 8 p.m. June 29 back in Ellwood City for the borough's weekend long arts-crafts, music and food festival in Ewing Park.

Steel-way to Heaven

Steel Zeppelin, a Pittsburgh-based Led Zeppelin tribute band, plays its second show June 21 at Thunderbird Music Hall in Lawrenceville.

An all-star cast of vocalist Katie Simone (vocals), bassist Anton DeFade (The Commonheart), drummer David Throckmorton (Maynard Ferguson's band) and internationally touring guitarist John Shannon first got the Led out at Bottlerocket Social Hall in March.

"It was a great success, and we want to continue the buzz for this show as well," said Simone, who recently headlined City Winery Pittsburgh in a show she devoted to singing Linda Ronstadt covers.

I had to ask: How do you approach singing like Ronstadt compared to Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant?

"I approach both singers from a similar headspace − in their prime, they were both absolute powerhouse vocalists," Simone said. "With Linda, a lot of the power was in the way she interpreted a lyric. She’s the quintessential song stylist and a phenomenal storyteller.

"With Plant, it’s a distinct blend of carnal rock & roll energy and mysticism," Simone said. "The larger-than-life stage presence (and hair) − it’s like he’s not from this planet on some level."

Steel Zeppelin will play Zeppelin classics and deep cuts, with a stage show encompassing mind-bending visuals by special lighting team Wallflower Design.

Tickets are $18 at thunderbirdmusichall.com.

The Clarks' new song delivers message

The Clarks' touching new single, "Supernatural," is inspired by the struggle faced by people fighting cancer. 

"We’ve been very close to those situations in the last couple of years," said Clarks bassist Greg Joseph, who co-wrote the song with rhythm guitarist Noah Minarik. "The song is an inspiration for patients and caregivers to fight on."

The Clarks headline Stage AE on June 22. Traditionally a week or so after that annual show, the Pittsburgh band announces a date in Bridgewater, specifically Mario's 410 Grille (formerly Thursday's restaurant.)

Slappers N Bangers

Looking for a pulsating party this Sunday?

Pittsburgh DJ duo Slappers & Bangers will provide the vibrant beats 4-8 p.m. June 9 at the Summer Kickoff at Trace Brewing in Bloomfield. Admission is free for an indoor and outdoor bash lasting from 4-8 p.m.

"We started as a small gathering in 2015, and now, nine years later, we're the go-to destination for hip hop, R&B, and trap enthusiasts in the city," said Arie Cole, co-founder of Slappers N Bangers, which recently closed out The Andy Warhol Museum's 30th-anniversary party.

"The Slappers N Bangers experience is absolutely one of a kind," Dana Bishop-Root, director of education and public programs at the Carnegie Museum of Art, says in a Slappers N Bangers press release. "It provides a truly inclusive space for unadulterated joy. To see people able to bring their full selves in a safe and vibrant environment is inspiring."

More: Happy 200th, Ambridge: Old Economy Bicentennial spawns lots of activities

Scott Tady is entertainment editor of The Times and easy to reach at [email protected].