Plan your road trip, Ben Folds is teaming up with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for two special performances
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08.01.2021

Plan your road trip, Ben Folds is teaming up with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for two special performances

Ben Folds will take to the stage alongside the MSO across two nights in January and February.

It’s been a long wait for the return of live music in regional Victoria. While we’re thankful for the steady flow of pub gigs announced across the state over the last few months, it’s Australia’s capital of live music that’s bringing the buzz with a slew of huge performances already locked in for 2021.

One such performance is that of beloved musician and master of many genres, Ben Folds, who is joining forces with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for two special performances on Sunday, January 31 and Monday, February 1 at Melbourne’s Plenary, which is located just an hour from Geelong, 1.5 hours from Ballarat and about two hours from Bendigo.

The performances were originally scheduled for March 2020, but were postponed as a result of the pandemic.

Although he is renowned for his pop music, Folds has made his affinity for classical music known across his career. A critically-acclaimed composer of classical music, Folds’ most recent album saw him meld pop songs and his ‘Concerto for Piano and Orchestra’, paying homage to classical masterpieces while appealing to fans of contemporary music.

Across the past decade, Folds has collaborated and performed alongside some of the greatest orchestras in the world.

“I grew up playing in orchestras, so being on stage with one feels like home to me,” said Folds. “When I take to the stage I don’t demoralize the orchestra by bringing along a loud rock band and grafting high volume. In these concerts, the orchestra IS my band.

“When I perform with an orchestra, I tell audiences that I’m expressing myself through a different form than what they have come to expect in a rock show, a form that happens to be done by people who are among the best musicians on the planet and who do it all the time,” he added.

A treat for fans of classical and contemporary music alike, stock the car with some snacks, fill up the tank and hit the road for a cinematic listening experience that promises to delight and inspire. Alternatively, regional Victorians can also hit up the convenient V/Line, with busses and trains running right into the heart of Melbourne. Regardless of how you get there, rest assured this is a performance that is not to be missed.

Catch Ben Folds performing alongside the MSO at the Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday January 31 and Monday February 1. For tickets and more information, visit the MSO website.