Singer-songwriter Ben Folds has thrilled fans by confirming the reunion of his cult group Ben Folds Five.

The band's frontman took to his Twitter.com page to share the news and post a photo of himself, Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee back in the studio together.

He tweeted, "It's happening fo sho (for sure) - Day 1 in studio with Robert and Darren. New Ben Folds Five record."

The album, set for a spring release, will be the trio's first since The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner in 1999.

The group split the following year and Folds went on to pursue a solo career.

Ben Folds has been forced to scrap his cruise plans due to poor ticket sales. The former Ben Folds Five leader was to set sail with a floating gig in February, as part of a series of celebrity cruise concert concepts.

But it seems Folds' fans suffer from seasickness - because the pop pianist's at-sea show undersold and has now been scrapped, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

Folds was only one star looking to set sail from Florida to the Caribbean next year, and all the other floating shows are still going ahead.

These include cruises featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd, Barenaked L...

John Mayer struck gold when Ben Folds agreed to tour with him this summer - because the pop pianist is the man the guitarist credits for kickstarting his career. Mayer admits he was a huge fan of Folds' group Ben Folds Five and claims listening to the group's tunes helped him hone his own songwriting talents.

The guitarist explains, "I'm just a huge Ben Folds fan, and Ben Folds Five was kind of a catalyst for me going from a guitar player to a songwriter. Those first two records are just stunning, and when I was kind of thirsting for lyrical information, it just filled me in. I'm such...

Pop pianist Ben Folds is preparing for life on the open waves after signing up to headline his own musical cruise. The Ben Folds Experience will set sail from the Port of Miami in Florida next February and will stop in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

The former Ben Folds Five frontman will perform during the cruise and plans to invite friends along for the trip.

Folds isn't the only star who'll hit the high seas with his own cruise in 2008; Lynyrd Skynyrd and Barenaked Ladies have also signed on as ship entertainment for similar treks, organized by sailing company Sixthman.

- Lynyrd Skyn...