Musician Ben Folds Will Perform at WHBPAC in July

As part of his “Paper Airplane Request Tour,” Emmy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling music artist Ben Folds will perform at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Sunday, July 14, at 8 p.m.

What initially began years ago as a request for songs as encores will once again be a central element in Folds’ shows when he engages audiences to make their song requests via paper airplanes.

“The last time I did this on tour the response was overwhelming, with literally hundreds of paper airplanes with song requests being launched on cue from fans at the start of the second half of each of my concerts,” said Folds. “It’s the purest, most low-tech form of engagement that creates a special bond with my audiences.”

“We are very excited to welcome Ben Folds to our mainstage,” added WHBPAC marketing director Heather Draskin. “His music has been a cultural touchstone for decades.”

Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation. He released his most recent album “What Matters Most” to critical acclaim, and has been in the studio in recent months working on his first holiday album targeted for release later this year. He’ll also be featured in a special PBS broadcast this spring that spotlights his ongoing “Declassified: Ben Folds Presents” concert series he curates as artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

For the past three decades, he’s toured as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras. A New York Times Best Selling author and podcast host, Ben also composes for film, TV and theater. A longtime advocate for arts and music education funding, Folds launched a music education charitable initiative in his native North Carolina entitled “Keys for Kids,” which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that provide free or affordable music lessons to interested school-age children. On the national level, he’s active as a member of Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

Tickets are $128 to $162 at whbpac.org or 631-288-1500. Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is at 76 Main Street in Westhampton Beach.