JACKSON, Wyo. — Billed as “Ben Folds & a Piano,” the Gen X Emmy-nominated vocalist-composer has had a busy 2025 thus far ahead of his Center Theatre performance this Thursday. Lindsey Kraft, a multi-faceted artist—actress, singer and composer—will open the show.
Ben Folds’ eight-year tenure as the first Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC came to and abrupt end earlier this year. He resigned on Feb. 12, one minute after President Trump’s decision to take over the Kennedy Center as chairman. On July 4, he released Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra, serving as a document of his era working with the NSO and includes such old favorites as “Still Fighting It,” reworked with a full orchestral introduction. In 2024, he released his first Christmas album, Sleigher, a mix of original songs and reimagined classics. Previous to that, his last album was 2023’s What Matter’s Most. On stage, he’s known for his wit and sharing wild stories along with glimpses into his song craft.
He currently tours as a pop artist while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras. A New York Times best-selling author and former podcast host (“Lightning Bugs: Conversations with Ben Folds”), he is also working on new compositions for film, TV and theatre. In 2022, he launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina titled “Keys For Kids,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that offer free or affordable piano lessons to school-age children from economically disadvantaged households.
You may recognize opening act Lindsey Kraft from various TV roles including Netflix’s Grace and Frankie, HBO’s Getting On and most recently Netflix’s Obliterated. She has been an opening act for Folds for a few years. 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. She characterizes her songs as deeply personal, funny and sad with a sound inspired by Carly Simon, Carole King, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Randy Newman, and Broadway.
The Center Presents Ben Folds with guest Lindsey Kraft at 8 p.m. Thursday August 14 at the Center Theater. Tickets are $71-$131. JHCenterForTheArts.org.
