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After a massively successful national run with the Barenaked Ladies’ Last Summer on Earth tour June 28 – July 22 as well as some special headline dates, Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist, Five For Fighting (aka John Ondrasik) will be playing a series of intimate string quartet shows in California beginning September 7 in Thousand Oaks, CA at Scherr Forum (Bank of America Performing Arts Center). All tour dates are listed below.
Ondrasik will be bringing top musicians including Tony-Award winning concertmaster and co-orchestrator of Moulin Rouge! The Musical Katie Kresek (Violin), Grammy-nominated Jeremy Kittle (Violin), and Broadway’s Chris Cardona (Viola) and Peter Sachon (Cello).
Says Ondrasik, “I’m thrilled to be back on the road with the incredible Five for Fighting string quartet. To perform nightly with world class musicians, including Tony Award Winner Katie Kresek, adds a dynamic and energy that often leaves me spellbound. Along with popular songs “Superman” and “100 Years”, we pull songs from my catalog with orchestrations from legendary composers such as George Del Barrio and Paul Buckmaster. The intimate nature of the evening allows me to go behind the music with stories and sagas, while there is always a surprise or two in store. We pride ourselves on presenting an experience for all ages and all walks of life…History Starts Now!”
Beginning with his first hit single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” Ondrasik has evolved as both an artist and humanitarian. To date, Five For Fighting, has released six studio albums, including the platinum certified America Townand The Battle for Everything; and the top-10 charting Two Lights, along with an EP and live albums. Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World,” and “Easy Tonight,” which have earned tens of millions of streams and place him as a top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artist for the 2000s. The reflective “100 Years” has joined “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” as part of the American Songbook and continues to stand the test of time at weddings, birthdays, graduations, memorials, and many a home video. Five For Fighting’s music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials, including the Oscar-winning The Blind Side, Hawaii Five-O, The Sopranos and the CBS drama, Code Black.
Ondrasik’s passion for supporting humanitarian efforts and freedom has been a longstanding commitment for the artist as well. Ondrasik recently traveled to Kyiv to film a music video of his new song “Can One Man Save the World?” with a Ukrainian Orchestra. The song was inspired by the courage of President Vladimir Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. The video debuted on Good Morning America and went viral worldwide. Watch the video HERE. Ondrasik will play a special arrangement he wrote with Katie Kresek especially for these dates.
Ondrasik has also given countless performances for the USO and has participated in keynote speaking engagements across the globe. Over the years, Ondrasik has given away five volumes of his compilation, “CD for the Troops,” to our U.S. Armed Forces, and more than one million copies have been distributed to soldiers worldwide. Ondrasik’s charity site www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com, inspired by his song, “World,” has seen fans uploading videos showing their respective interpretations of a better world. That initiative has raised more than $250,000 for five designated charities – Augie’s Quest, Autism Speaks, Fisher House Foundation, Save the Children and Operation Homefront.
But perhaps his biggest achievement is performing “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” at the 2001 Concert for New York, a benefit show at Madison Square Garden that honored first responders and the fallen about a month after the tragic September 11th attacks. Ondrasik performed alongside other big-name artists like Paul McCartney, The Who, Elton John, Billy Joel, and dozens more.
For all Five For Fighting tour dates and tickets please go HERE.
Five For Fighting String Quartet Dates:
Sept 7 – Thousand Oaks, CA – Scherr Forum (Bank of America Performing Arts Center)
Sept 8 – Thousand Oaks, CA – Scherr Forum (Bank of America Performing Arts Center) – SOLD OUT
Sept 9 – Santa Clarita, CA – Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center
Sept 10 – Turlock, CA – Turlock Community Theatre
Sept 12 – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre
Sept 13 – Grass Valley, CA – The Center for the Arts
Sept 14 – Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre Napa – Pitch
Sept 15 – Livermore, CA – Livermore Valley PAC
Sept 17 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern – SOLD OUT
