Ben Folds in Gateshead

Ben Folds is an American singer-songwriter and pianist, born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1966. He first became known as the frontman and principal songwriter of the piano-rock trio Ben Folds Five, whose songs include “Brick” and “Battle of Who Could Care Less.” His solo catalogue includes the album Rockin’ the Suburbs and the song “The Luckiest.” The 2002 solo concerts documented on Ben Folds Live featured him alone at a grand piano, performing material from his band and solo records. In 2012, he toured again with the original Ben Folds Five lineup following the release of The Sound of the Life of the Mind. His orchestral work has also included concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.