Ben Kweller

Ben Kweller lands at Gorilla in Manchester on 9 June 2026 for a set that traces his path from teenage noise-maker in Radish to sharp-eyed songwriter with a knack for melodies that stick. Born in San Francisco and raised in Texas before settling in New York, he’s shaped a sound that moves easily between indie rock, power pop and folk, built on bright guitars, close harmonies and a conversational way with words. On stage, that mix turns into something warm and immediate: the punch of a full band, then the quiet pull of an acoustic moment, then back again.

Expect songs that span his catalogue: the restless hooks of Sha Sha and On My Way, the crisp guitar pop of his self-titled album, the twang and open-road feel of Changing Horses, and the more electric bite of Go Fly a Kite. He pens choruses you can sing on first listen and verses that catch small details of everyday life, and he brings them live with an easy, unshowy charm. Longtime followers know him too from The Bens with Ben Folds and Ben Lee, a reminder of his place in that blur between indie, pop and Americana. Support on the night will set the tone before Kweller steps in with the kind of set that balances energy and intimacy without forcing it.