Ben Folds « Paper Airplane Request Tour »

Ben Folds brings his Paper Airplane Request Tour to The Glasshouse – International Centre for Music in Gateshead on 16 November 2026. The American singer, songwriter and pianist first broke through with Ben Folds Five, putting the piano at the center of an alternative rock sound that leaned toward power pop and tight, melodic writing. His solo path has since stretched from punchy piano-rock to hushed ballads, chamber-pop and orchestral projects, reflecting a taste for bridges between pop and concert music.

On stage, Folds moves from wry character sketches to bittersweet melodies, flipping between percussive chords, sly harmonies and quick improvisations. Expect a set that travels through Ben Folds Five songs and his solo catalog, including recent work from What Matters Most and Sleigher, with space for detours and in-the-moment twists. True to the spirit of this tour, audience requests help shape the night, as Folds fields them in real time and reshapes his songs at the piano. A chance to hear three decades of writing from an artist who keeps finding new ways to play it.