BEN FOLDS GETS SYMPHONIC

Ben Folds will be “rockin’ the suburbs” with Symphony Orchestra’s around the nation in coming months.

Through Ben Folds Five, and his subsequent solo career, Ben Folds heartfelt songs and affecting lyrics have created one of the great modern songbooks. His clever, wry and deftly humorous songs are given new life with stunning orchestral arrangements. Fans can expect to hear all their favourites including “Brick”, “Narcolepsy”, “Zak and Sara”, “The Luckiest” and many more.

North Carolina-raised Folds, who divides his time between Nashville and Adelaide, performed to sell-out crowds last year with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and even danced on top of his piano during the show to the delight of audiences.

From his first solo debut album, Rockin’ the Suburbs to his latest, self-produced Songs for Silverman, which marks his first work with a band since the days of Ben Folds Five, this talented musician and songwriter has earned a cult-following amongst music-lovers.

His songs have also been used on the soundtrack for the soon-to-be released Dream Works animated film, Over the Hedge featuring the voices of Bruce Willis and William Shatner.

Ben’s concerts with the Symphony Orchestras will feature some of his classic works specially arranged for orchestra. As Folds has stated, the classical and rock worlds “love to collaborate” when they get a chance to do so.

And for audiences, this collaboration brings together the best of both worlds.

Dates:
Perth Concert Hall - 23, 25 and 27 August
(with the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra)
Sydney Opera House - 7 and 8 September
(with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra)
QPAC Concert Hall - 14 and 15 September
(with the Queensland Orchestra)
Hamer Hall, Arts Centre - 22 and 23 September
(with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)
Festival Theatre - 29 and 30 September, 2006
(with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra)

PLACEBOS MAKE YOU HOWL

Come September, Australia will bid welcome to the long-awaited return of the glorious alchemy and anarchy that is Placebo, one of the truly individual voices in rock.

Brian Molko (vocals/guitar), Stefan Olsdal (bass/guitar) & Steve Hewitt (drums) last played for their Australian fans in 2004, delivering a level of performance and quality of sound that firmly ensconced them in the very top echelon of live acts.

A darkly romantic group, Placebo’s rise and rise has seen them expand their audience from a cult to a global explosion, whilst combining a rare hunger for musical inventiveness and personal discovery with storytelling nous, to take often daring steps into fresh musical territory.

Black Market Music brought hip-hop and disco elements to their brooding rock blueprint, whilst Sleeping With Ghosts saw them experimenting with electronics, loops and studio magic and building an even more avid devotion from an ever growing legion of smart rock fans revelling in Placebo’s unexpected stylistic turns.

Placebo’s 5th album Meds looks set to be their biggest and most gasp-worthy plot twist yet - a molten, souped-up roar of a record, yet also Placebo’s most human collection to date.

Meds boasts tales of fragile souls freaking out because they’ve forgotten to take their medication (“Meds”), of friends who are making extremely bad lifestyle choices (1st single “Song To Say Goodbye”) as well as the finely honed storytelling of the new single, “Infra-Red”.

Joining Placebo on tour are Australia’s own Howling Bells, their debut self titled album rated 9 out of 10 by NME, “by turns beguiling and enthralling, this is an extraordinary album… true brilliance… tunes that burrow into your skull.” The Guardian raves of their live show “they’re on the verge of unequivocal magnificence.”

Whilst slightly less effusive, we said: “...there’s no doubting that this debut is a strong beginning for the band, and you get the impression that Howling Bells are merely going to get better from here on in.”

Dates:
Friday 15 September – Melbourne Festival Hall
Saturday 16 September – Canberra Royal Theatre
Monday 18 September – Brisbane Convention Centre
Wednesday 20 September – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney