Ben Folds Releases Live Album with National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC

Ben Folds has released a new live album, "Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra," recorded in October 2024 at the sold-out Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The album features Folds performing classic and new solo material alongside the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Steven Reineke, with guest appearances by Regina Spektor and Tall Heights. This release comes after Folds resigned as the first Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra, a position he left in protest following President Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center in February 2025. The album is available across digital platforms and various physical formats, including signed CDs and limited-edition vinyl. Folds marked the album's launch with a special in-store event in Washington, D.C., and plans a U.S. tour performing solo and with orchestras. The album is described as both a celebration and a protest, documenting Folds' experience at the Kennedy Center during a period of significant institutional change under Trump's leadership.