It’s Saturday night in a piano bar, and Julian Velard takes the stage with something to prove. After a lifetime of trying to make his musical mark, Velard shares his original songs mixed with sharp, self-aware humor confronting the existential problems of being a 44-year-old father, husband, and never-has-been. Velard dives headfirst into the chaos of middle age, fighting to keep his artistic integrity alive while juggling the relentless demands of adulthood. With surprise guests and spontaneous interactions, the audience is in for a ride, never knowing where Velard will lead them next. It’s a night at the piano bar you’ll never forget.

Julian Velard is a classic entertainer - a rare combination of Nilsson-meets-Newman, piano-driven singer-songwriter sensibility and razor-sharp comedic timing. His versatile stage presence makes him equally comfortable in the spotlight or as a sidekick – a modern-day Paul Shaffer. He’s become a cult sensation in America and Europe, and an in-demand performer in his homebase of Los Angeles. All those facets are on display on his newest album In the Middle of Something, an introspective song cycle about the pitfalls and promises of middle age.

Velard’s quick wit and musicality have made him a fixture in the comedy world. He’s been a regular guest on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show and NPR’s Ask Me Another, and shared stages with a host of talented comedians including Will Ferrell, Reggie Watts, Drew Carey, and Jack Black. In 2023, he served as musical director and on-stage foil for a star-studded cast in the Give Back-ular Spectacular, produced by Paul Scheer and Marta Kaufman, a live fundraiser for film and TV crews affected by the WGA and SAG strikes.

A native New Yorker, Velard scored a major label record deal in the ‘00s that took him to the U.K., where he toured alongside Jamie Cullum, Paul Carrack, and Goldfrapp, and garnered praise from The Guardian, Time Out London, and The Sunday Times. He served as an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater in New York City, and his one-man show Please Don’t Make Me Play Piano Man was named one of the best of 2020 by Broadway World.

In addition to a body of work that includes seven studio albums, Velard has also written music and lyrics for U.K. sensation Olly Murs, Wix.com, the New York Knicks, Buzzfeed, Audible, Google, Aldi Supermarkets., and The New Republic. For these unique projects, he’s been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vice, The AV Club, Nerdist, and Mashable.

Alison Leiby is a writer and comedian in New York. She's written for Life & Beth, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The President Show and many other television programs. Her stand up has appeared on Comedy Central, and her solo show, Oh God, A Show About Abortion, ran at the Cherry Lane Theater with two extensions as well as The Kennedy Center.

Website

Photo courtesy of the artist.