Ben Folds, musician, and Nick Hornby, writer, are teaming up to record a new album that is set to be released sometime later in the year. It’s isn’t uncommon in pop and rock music for the lyrics and music responsibilities to be divided. Many of the the lyrics to some of Elton John’s greatest hit songs were composed by Bernie Taupin. However it’s rare when a novelist gets involved. Hornby isn’t any old novelist of course. He is well known for having music fans. His rock music also plays a prominent role in his novels “Juliet, Naked” and “High Fidelity.”

Pianist, songwriter and singer Ben Folds, who is fresh off his recent stint as a judge on a talent show on NBC, has lined some headlining dates up for next month to continue his support of “Way to Normal,” his album from 2008. The outing will kick off in Myrtle Beach, SC on March 13 and visit 11 cities in the southern US. It will include an appearance on March 25 in Raleigh, NC, where the North Carolina Symphony will back him. Last fall Folds appeared with several symphonies including in Boston with the Boston Pops and Washington D.C. with National Symphony Orchestra.

Ben Folds will be following up his scheduled Lollapalooza appearance this summer by sitting at his piano with a few of the leading symphony orchestras in the country. On September 24, the quirky songwriter/singer will be appearing in Washington, DC with National Symphony Orchestra, on October 2 in Boston with Boston Pops, and October 31 with Minneapolis Orchestra in Minneapolis. In 2005-2006 Folds toured with symphony orchestras. In 2007 he also played with Boston Pops.

A brief winter outing by Ben Folds has expanded to now include over a dozen dates over the eastern part of the US as well as Canada. The theater and club outing will be kicking off in Princeton, NY on February 11 and now continues through March 1. Since last check an additional nine cities have been scheduled, including Atlanta, Cincinnati and Baltimore.

Ben Folds Five on September 18 will be reuniting to kick off their new music program sponsored by MySpace called “Front to Back.” According to a recent press release, the series will be featuring first class artists performing a seminal album of theirs live in concert. Later “Front to Back” will rebroadcast it on the official MySpace profile.

Ben Folds, with his headlining tour to back his new album underway, has devised a plan for helping fans that aren’t able to see him this fall playing live still be able to hear his performances. Folds, who continues the outing in Fort Wayne, IN on October 3, will be recording one track in 10 difference cities during the tour. Then the next day he will release them through the Apple iTunes Music Store.

Songwriter and singer Ben Folds said working in the studio two years after his divorce felt like popping open a champagne bottle after shaking for 18 months. Frenzied, perky and snarky, the third album from Folds, “Way to Normal,” celebrates him returning to his old self and his newly found freedom.

This fall, Ben Folds fans have two things at least to look forward to: a round of concerts and new album that features rare cuts from the songwriter/singer’s entire career. Currently Folds is in the middle of a tour of Australia. He will next be in the US in Las Vegas on October 29 at the Vegoose festival. Then he will embark on a headlining trek that will kick off in Houston on November 1. Nine headlining dates have been confirmed. According to the website for Folds, additional shows will be added later.

The quirky songwriter and singer Ben Folds will be touring in Europe and the US and will also be releasing his third solo set. The US leg of the tour will launch in Philadelphia on September 6. Folds will be performing with the Chamber Orchestra. His coast to coast US trek, which will stretch through until the middle of November, will also include orchestral performances in Louisville, KY; Fort Wayne, IN; and Nashville, Folds’ hometown.