Music fans who know that the New Jersey Symphony is capable of anything are here at New Brunswick’s State Theatre New Jersey this Sunday, June 14, 2026 afternoon for a special performance featuring the New Jersey Symphony and the Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, and composer, Ben Folds.
Making his mark in the late ‘90s as frontman and pianist of the alternative rock group, Ben Folds Five, Folds’ first solo album was 2001’s Rockin’ the Suburbs. His highest charting recording was his 2008 solo effort, Way to Normal, but his 2015 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra soared to #1 on the Billboard classical chart.
Many recognize Folds for his work as a judge on the TV singing competition, The Sing Off, in addition to appearances on the NBC sitcom, Community, and the Showtime drama, Billions. Last year, he released a live concert album recorded at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where he served for eight years as the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra.
Inside the historic STNJ auditorium, concertmaster Eric Wyrick tunes the orchestra. Concertgoers applaud for conductor Edwin Outwater who makes his entrance and begins to conduct an ethereal tune.
The crowd cheers as Ben Folds, 59, takes the stage and stands at the mic crooning, “Do you still believe in the good of humankind?” backed by soaring strings and sparkling melodic percussion on his chamber pop song, “But Wait, There’s More.”
The audience enthusiastically applauds as Folds takes a seat at the piano and launches into “Capable of Anything.”
His voice floating above the orchestra, Folds sings, “What is this/It doesn’t make much sense/They sing it like a pop song,” before horns blare and the arrangement builds on this rhythmic chamber rock piece.
Folds announces, “This next song was written for anyone who is estranged from family or friends by way of good old fashioned disinformation and weird stories that are intended to make you hate somebody that you never met.”
Here, lush orchestration accompanies Folds’ emotional vocal on his waltz-like piano ballad, “Kristine from the Seventh Grade.”
Confessing, “This is one of the only songs I ever wrote on an actual tour bus,” Folds’ falsetto voice calls out on the rhythmic “Jesusland” where the full, rich orchestra supports his rolling piano on this cinematic rocker.
Folds welcomes today’s crowd joking, “I’m a rock and roll musician. I’ve never said ‘Good afternoon’ before. It feels weird!” prior to calling out, “Good afternoon, New Jersey!” He goes on to explain that the lyrics for his next song were written by Nick Hornby about his son who spent many days in the hospital. Here, Folds gives a heartfelt performance, crying, “You know what hope is?/Hope is a bastard/Hope is a liar,” on the poignant alternative rocker, “Picture Window.”
Folds steps away from the piano to joke, “This song is about a petty criminal — not about some kind of international crook stealing millions of dollars, or a pedophile — so don’t get it confused with any kind of political statement,” before performing, “Fragile,” where the woodwind section adds color to this wistful power pop tune.
Back at the keyboard, Folds exclaims, “This is such a great symphony orchestra you have!” The crowd cheers before clapping in rhythm on Folds’ alternative rocker, “Annie Waits,” where he laments, “Annie waits for the last time/Just the same as the last time,” after which a trumpet calls and strings slide on the arrangement’s dramatic coda.
Following intermission, Folds reveals, “This is a Psychedelic Furs song,” which he recorded for the Amazon Prime TV series, The Wilds. Rolling tympani and cymbals swell on an orchestral interpretation of “The Ghost in You,” which has Folds rendering an arpeggiated piano solo.
The crowd joins Folds in singing, “If there’s a God, he is laughing at us and our football team,” on “Effington,” a syncopated power pop tune about small town life in America which elicits avid whistles and cheers.
Folds explains that his next selection, “Paddleboat Breakup,” is a true story about his attempt to break up with a girlfriend on a paddleboat in the middle of a lake. Humorous lyrics tickle the audience as Folds cries out his girlfriend’s “You must really hate me/To have planned it out like this/You can get us back to the shore/I’m not rowing shit!” response on this indie-pop story song.
Folds takes a moment to talk about how, at the Kennedy Center, the current musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra are uncertain of their futures and implores audience members to support their local orchestras, suggesting, “All you have to have is a pair of ears and a heart to save civilization.”
Introducing a song he did for the animated movie, Over the Hedge, Folds leaps into “Still,” where his sweet vocal and piano fill the auditorium on the “La la” refrain of this waltz time piece before the orchestral strings and woodwinds join in on the lovely coda.
After the dramatic rock ballad, “Landed,” where Folds cries in his falsetto voice, “I’ve been flying high all night/So come pick me up/I’ve landed,” Folds croons, “You will always have a part of me/Nobody else is ever gonna see,” on “Gracie,” a nostalgic pop ballad he wrote for his daughter.
Folds and Co. conclude today’s concert with a powerful rendition of “Zak and Sara” where audience members joyfully clap in rhythm and sing along on the “La la la, la la la, la la la/Zak and Sara” refrain and the orchestra soars on this symphonic alt-rocker.
Music lovers stand and cheer and Folds says, “Thank you, New Jersey Symphony!” He exits the stage but soon returns to the piano to perform his improvised crowd pleaser, “Rockin’ this Bitch (New Jersey),” where the ensemble accompanies him as he sings with energy, “We’re gonna rock this bitch here all day long in New Jersey,” to enthusiastic laughter, cheers, and applause.
Segueing into “The Luckiest,” the orchestra supports Folds and concertgoers as they sing together on the ballad’s grateful “I am/I am/The luckiest” refrain. At the conclusion, Folds says, “Thank you!” before acknowledging “The New Jersey Symphony!” as the audience stands, cheers, and applauds.
As concertgoers make their way out of the theater, several share their thoughts on today’s performance. Comments Ashley from Bethlehem, PA, “Ben Folds was fantastic and the New Jersey Symphony was amazing; I had a blast!” Ashley’s friend, Arlene from Bethlehem, agrees, explaining, “I’ve seen Ben in concert many times, but this is the first time I’ve seen him with an orchestra, and it was gorgeous. They reimagined a lot of his classics, which helped the listener to examine them from a different angle and come away with a new perspective.”
Suzanne from Landsdale, PA, reveals, “We’ve seen Ben Folds at least 12 times, and he’s always awesome!” to which her husband, Matthew, explains, “Today’s show started off with songs which were very dense and very nuanced but, closer to intermission, the songs had greater playability and familiarity, and by the time we got to the last third of the concert, people were singing along and having a great time.”
Katie from Egg Harbor Township asserts, “I loved Ben Folds today! I’ve followed his journey from the ‘90s until now. This is probably the seventh time I’ve seen him and it was amazing hearing him with an orchestra.” Notes daughter, Amelia, 17, “I thought the show was great, and I especially loved listening to Ben play the piano. He was great!”
Ariane from Lakewood suggests, “I thought the orchestra was fabulous today — they added a lot to the experience! I’ve been to orchestral concerts before, but I’m new to Ben Folds — he was so warm, and I appreciated his whole vibe,” before adding, “It was a wonderful experience coming here with my dad as his Father’s Day gift.”
Says Ariane’s dad, Peter, 94, from Lakewood, “My son introduced me to Ben Folds’ music back in the ‘90s and I’ve always enjoyed his songs. I think it was a good combination having him perform together with the New Jersey Symphony — one which I thoroughly enjoyed.”
Lastly, Doug from Sewell exclaims, “Ben Folds was fantastic! This was my first time seeing him with an orchestra and it added a lot of emotion and nuance to the material.” Acknowledging, “I’ve seen the New Jersey Symphony before and they’re always great,” Doug concludes by insisting, “I like Ben Folds and I like the New Jersey Symphony, but I like Ben Folds and the New Jersey Symphony even better together!”
To learn more about Ben Folds, please go to benfolds.com. For info on the New Jersey Symphony, please navigate to njsymphony.org. To find out more about great upcoming New Jersey Symphony performances at STNJ — including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert on February 28, 2027 and Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, 50th Anniversary Celebration on May 23, 2027 — please click on stnj.org.
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