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Sunfest Heats up South Florida April 27-May 1

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Our own major music event takes place from April 27 to May 1 on the water in downtown West Palm Beach.  Over the past 10 years Swept Away Tv has covered many artists and an incredible number of great live performances.  This year’s lineup is amazing!  Take a look!

SunFest, Florida’s largest music, art and waterfront festival, announces national acts scheduled to headline at the 29th annual event being held April 27-May 1, along one of the most scenic sections of Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. National acts scheduled to perform include Jason Mraz, Earth, Wind & Fire, MGMT, Sublime with Rome, Cee Lo Green, Jeff Beck, Taking Back Sunday , Gregg Allman, Neon Trees, The Avett Brothers,  O.A.R., Styx,  Mike Posner, Sick Puppies, Never Shout Never,  Prince Royce,  Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Anberlin, The Supervillains, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Brooke Fraser, and Ziggy Marley. More entertainment to be announced as confirmed.

“SunFest has become known for putting together a diverse line-up and this year we have truly delivered,” said Paul Jamieson, executive director of SunFest. “From Pop and Reggae, Classic and Alternative Rock, Jazz and Latin, we have pulled together an exciting lineup.  We have an incredible setting along the waterfront of downtown West Palm Beach. It’s a music experience like no other available to festival goers and music lovers.”

Florida-based reggae group The Supervillains will perform Wednesday evening, April 27 on the Bank of America Stage. In their twelve-year existence, The Supervillains have grown from hometown heroes in St. Cloud, Orlando to one of the most recognizable names in reggae.

Swept Away Tv favorites Ska-punk band Sublime with Rome will perform Wednesday evening, April 27 on the Bank of America Stage. Sublime is known for their rhythm section, funky drumming and bass lines.  In 2010, founding members of Sublime, drummer Bud Gaugh and bass player Eric Wilson announced they would officially take the stage once again with new front man, singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez. After 14 years the new Sublime with Rome reintroduced themselves and Sublime’s music to fans across the country by energizing crowds with old Sublime favorites like “Santeria,” “What I Got,” and “Wrong Way.” The band has moved ahead with new material, including their new song “Panic.” Sublime with Rome is currently working on a debut album slated for release sometime in 2011.

Folk rock band The Avett Brothers will perform Wednesday evening, April 27 on the Tire Kingdom Stage. Noted in 2009 Rolling Stone magazine as artist to watch, The Avett Brothers are known for rowdy, energetic live shows and honest lyrics. Their sound has been described as having the “heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, the light pop concision of Buddy Holly, the tuneful jangle of the Beatles, and the raw energy of the Ramones.”  The Avett Brothers have opened for Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer among others. Their latest album I and Love and You was produced by legendary producer and talent scout Rick Rubin.

Swept Away Tv interviewee  Jason Mraz will perform Thursday evening, April 28 on the Bank of America Stage. Mraz is best known for the single “I’m Yours” off of his third studio album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2008. This two time Grammy award winner is known for his clever, observant lyrics and strong engaging pop melodies. He encourages fans to record his live performances which often contain an element of surprise and the showcasing of a new song never heard by the public before.

For the hip hop fans Grammy-award winner Cee Lo Green will perform Thursday evening, April 28 on the Tire Kingdom Stage. Cee Lo Green hails from Atlanta, Georgia and is a singer, songwriter, rapper and producer who has a knack for continually reinventing himself. Cee Lo began his career as part of the renowned and influential hip hop group Goodie Mob prior to breaking out on his own in 2002. Green released two solo albums before becoming part of the superstar duo Gnarles Barkley with alternative music producer Danger Mouse.

Another Swept Away Tv interviewee the band Anberlin will perform Friday evening, April 29 on the Bank of America Stage. Hailing from Orlando, this mainstay in the alternative rock scene is touring in support of their fifth studio album. Their hits include “Impossible,” “Dark Is the Way” and “Light Is a Place.” Led by the soaring vocals of Stephen Christian, the positive-thinking Anberlin also included Joseph Milligan (guitar), Nathan Young (drums), Joey Bruce (guitar), and Deon Rexroat (bass), and presented an alternative pop/rock sound that, while inflected with the earnestness of emo, was closer to the mature stylings of Third Eye Blind.

Another favorite Taking Back Sunday will perform Friday evening, April 29 on the Bank of America Stage.

Taking Back Sunday is one of the leading groups on contemporary punk scene.  The band boasts 3 gold albums, two of which hit the top five including a #2 debut for 2006’s Louder Now.

Cherry Poppin’ Daddies will perform Friday evening April 29 on the Tire Kingdom Stage.

Gregg Allman will perform Friday evening, April 29 on the Tire Kingdom Stage. Gregg Allman is both a founding member of one of the biggest American bands of all time, the Allman Brothers Band, and a critically acclaimed solo talent. In addition to his singing and playing, Allman has written many memorable hits, including the classics “Midnight Rider,” “Dreams” and “Queen of Hearts.” In January 2011 the Southern rocker released his first solo album in 14 years Low Country Blues, marking Allman’s return to the front ranks of American music.

Mike Posner will perform Friday evening, April 29 on the FPL Stage. American singer, songwriter and producer Mike Posner got his music career going when he self-released two mix-tapes and signed a record deal with J Records while still attending college at Duke University. He returned to school to finish his degree before launching his debut album 31 Minutes to Takeoff in August of 2010. The album includes the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 single “Cooler Than Me’’ as well as his second single “Please Don’t Go.”

Ziggy Marley will perform Saturday afternoon, April 30 on the Bank of America Stage. Marley is the oldest son of reggae legend Bob Marley. Ziggy is a five-time Grammy award winner best known for singles such as “Drive,” “True To Myself,” “People Get Ready” and “Tomorrow People.” His next album is tentatively entitled Wild and Free and is slated for release in the summer of 2011. His latest release “A Fire Burns For Freedom” is the second song released in the Wild and Free Series, and comes on the heels of his first release, “Africa Land.” This song supported a historic moment, Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup for the first time.

Never Shout Never will perform Saturday afternoon, April 30 on the Tire Kingdom Stage.

One of 2010’s most buzzed about acts Never Shout Never is fronted by 20 year old Christopher Drew Ingle.

Alternative Rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket will perform Saturday afternoon, April 30 on the FPL Stage. The band is best known for their hit singles “All I Want” and “Walk on the Ocean” off their 1991 certified platinum album Fear.  To this day, their mellow, melodic folk-pop sound makes them one of the most successful bands of the 90’s. In December 2010, the band announced their official reunion as a full-time working band. They are currently writing songs for their first studio album since their 1997 release Coil.

MGMT will perform Saturday evening, April 30 on the Bank of America Stage. MGMT is an American psychedelic-rock band based in Brooklyn, NY. This electric brainy pop group with psychedelic overtones and unusual pop structures is best known for their singles “Kids,” “Time To Pretend” and “Electric Feel.” MGMT was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.  Their second album Congratulations was released in 2010.

Styx will perform Saturday evening, April 30 on the Tire Kingdom Stage. The group hails from the south side of Chicago and is one of the most successful “arena rock” groups of all time. They have performed more live since ’99 than all of the previous years of their career combined. Styx has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide and is one of the few bands to have had three top ten songs in three different decades, the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The band is best known for hit songs such as “Come Sail Away,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Babe,” “The Best of Times,” and “Show Me the Way.”

Another interviewee from 2009 The American rock band O.A.R. will perform Sunday afternoon, May 1 on the Bank of America Stage. O.A.R. (originally known as Of a Revolution) is well known for their unique concert performances in which the band often creates variations to songs making it rare to hear an O.A.R. song played the exact same way twice.  In 2008, “Shattered (Turn the Car Around)” the first single off their sixth studio album All Sides, peaked at number 2 on the Top 40 charts and was named one of VH1’s top videos of that year. O.A.R.’s reputation as being one of the top live bands performing today has led to them selling out such venues as New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

And lately of the Buzz Bake Sale 2010, Australian rock trio Sick Puppies will perform Sunday afternoon, May 1 on the FPL Stage.

Neon Trees will perform Sunday evening, May 1 on the FPL Stage. The band first started playing under the name Neon Trees in late 2005 after the keyboard/vocalist Tyler Glenn was inspired by the lighted trees on the In-N-Out Burgers signs of the popular west coast burger chain. Like their name, Neon Trees are a combination of slick electric pop, sturdy organic rock and hook-happy new wave whose hard-hitting anthems speak of adolescent angst of love lost and found. Their first single “Animal” off their first studio album Habits climbed to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Grammy-award winner Jeff Beck will perform Sunday evening, May 1 on the Tire Kingdom Stage. Beck helped revolutionize rock music and inspire countless individuals with his unique approach to playing the guitar. He is known as one of the most influential guitarists in the history of rock music and has recognized Les Paul and John McLaughlin as being major influencers on his sound.

Multi-day tickets are the best way to save on tickets!

Best Deal – March Moneysaver – 5 Day Ticket Promotion for $54 When this deal is gone, it’s gone, buy before 5 p.m. on March 31.  To purchase tickets online:

http://www.sunfest.com/ticketpromotions

2011 FESTIVAL DAYS/HOURS

Wednesday, April 27: 5-10 pm

Thursday, April 28: 5-11 pm

Friday, April 29: 5-11 pm

Saturday, April 30: Noon-11 pm

Sunday, May 1: Noon-9 pm

 

THE VERIZON WIRELESS FIREWORKS SHOW

The Verizon Wireless Fireworks Show closes the Festival with a bang on Sunday, May 1 at 9 p.m.

 

 

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movies

Interview with Abigail Breslin

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Interview with Abigail Breslin                                                                                                       By: Liz Newman

Abigail Breslin has had the career most actors’ envy, and she doesn’t even have her learner’s permit yet.  We caught up with the 14-year-old starlet – whose starred in hit movies like Little Miss Sunshine, Definitely, Maybe and Signs – to hear about her new animated flick, Rango, and what Johnny Depp is really like.

How was the voice over different work different in Rango, what was it like not just working in a sound booth – was there a difference?

I like how we did it on Rango, because you sort of get to play off of the other actors and get to experience if they say a line a certain way, and it makes you say it differently. That’s a lot of fun. Being in the booth is cool too, but I liked the way we filmed it – we sort of filmed it like a play, so it was fun.

Tell us about Priscilla, the character you play in the movie.

Priscilla is a very morbid, dry, sort of tough mouse – there’s a technical name for the type of animal she is, but it’s easier to just say mouse. She really isn’t so sure of Rango in the beginning and she sort of makes fun of him. She was a lot of fun to play.

How did you get involved with Rango?

Gore Verbinski, the director, sent me a sketch of Priscilla and a letter, and asked me to be in it.  I loved what I saw of Priscilla; I would have just done it based on just how cute she is.  But I really loved the story, and the character is hilarious – so I was really excited to be able to play her.

Were you given the whole script?

Yeah, I knew the whole story – and all the Priscilla themes.  I loved it.

If you were to play another character, other than Priscilla, who would you have chosen?

Oh, that’s really, really hard. I guess there’s one, but I wouldn’t want to say it because I think Priscilla would be awfully offended if I did.

How did you master the Western accent?

Gore had a very specific sort of sound that he wanted Priscilla to sound like; he didn’t want it to be a pretty southern accent, he wanted it to be very rough. I saw a dialect coach in New York and L.A.; we sort of just worked on that.

Was this your first time, when recording your voice, working with Johnny Depp?

Yes, we filmed all of our scenes actually together. That was really great to do. He was really nice, he acted really normal – he wasn’t like “I’m Johnny Depp” or anything, he was a very nice guy.

Did you audition for the part?

I didn’t audition; I was really lucky to be able to just play her.

What is the message you think kids will pick up in this movie?

I think that it is a kids movie, but it’s also something that everybody can enjoy because I think it has a really good story in there, and jokes that adults would understand more than there kids would. But also stuff that the kids could really like, because the characters are really crazy. If you look at everybody in the town, they’re all sort of crazy looking. One of my favorite scenes is when Priscilla and Rango are sort of picking out each other’s flaws, like “you’re hat’s funny looking.” Because, if you look around in the town, it’s not like they’re exclusively odd looking. Everybody is pretty strange looking. And so, you know, I think the message that people take away is that he’s sort of pretending to be this hero, and to just be who you are.

How did you know you wanted to be an actress – how’d you let your parents know you wanted to do this?

My brother started acting before I did, then I just did a commercial and auditioned for the movie Signs and I got it. After I made that, I just kept wanting to do it; I just had so much fun with it.

Did you take acting lessons?

Nope, not really – I just sort of did it.

How are you handling the transition of going from a child to a young adult both in your career and real life?

I don’t know — I turned 14, and people asked me if I feel different, and I think no. I just feel the same I did a day ago when I was 13. I don’t feel like I’ve changed too much.

This movie has a lot of adult humor in it. And other movies like “Alvin and the Chipmunks” tend to dumb-down material to kids — did the fact this movie didn’t appeal to you?f

I must say, I’m a huge Alvin an – I saw it the second day it opened It was very entertaining. I’m a huge animated movie fan. I really want to see Tangled, I saw Despicable Me and loved it and Toy Story 3 and loved it. I do love Alvin – the desktop on my computer for six months. Anyways, I think that’s what’s really great about Rango is that it doesn’t talk down to kids – it’s obviously something that kids can enjoy watching but it doest make it that they’re stupid or something. That’s something that I liked – it’s sort of an edgy animation.

What specifically did you like about “Rango?”

I really did love the character Priscilla, she’s really different than anyone I’ve played or any character that I’ve seen before. When you first see her, you think she’s going to be this cute sweet, little school girl and then she starts talking and she’s totally crazy. She’s out of her mind! So that’s something that really appealed to me about the story.

What was an average day of shooting like?

Basically, we would just go – I would put on my Priscilla wig that had braids and a hat. And we just did the scenes. It was really like any other film, they just didn’t use our faces, just animation.

How do you get into character for some of your emotional roles like in “My Sister’s Keeper?”

I try to put myself in my character’s position. For My Sister’s Keeper, my grandfather died of cancer so I could sort of connect to my character in that sense. I think that with every movie I do, I sort have a personal connection in some way with it. You just sort of have to think of that.

What’s going on with new projects like “Janie Jones” and “New Year’s Eve?”

In terms of Janie Jones – yes, that will be coming out, I don’t have specific date, and I’m excited for that because I get to sing in that movie. And in term of New Year’s Eve I can’t give you any sort of hint there. It’s very hush hush.

Would you say “Little Miss Sunshine,” and your subsequent your Oscar nomination, was the big push in you career?

I loved making Little Miss Sunshine, I was really lucky to be able to do it and it gave me a lot of opportunities. It was a very exciting time to be nominating. I know how exciting it is, so I wish everyone that is nominated the absolute best.

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FREE MOVIE SCREENINGS FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS

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High School Students FREE MOVIE SCREENINGS

DATES and LOCATIONS: all screenings are at 7:30 PM.

WEDNESDAY, OCT 6

MIAMI-DADE
Regal South Beach Cinema
1120 Lincoln Rd  Miami Beach/South Beach 33139 · 305.674.6766

ORLANDO
Regal Winter Park
510 N. Orlando Ave · Winter Park 32789 · 407.628.0163
7:30 PM

BOCA RATON
Cinemark Palace
3200 Airport Rd · Boca Raton 33431 · 561.395.4695

THURSDAY OCT 7

FT LAUDERDALE-BROWARD
Cinemark Paradise
15601 Sheridan St · Davie 33331 · 954.680.3495

GET YOUR FREE TICKETS HERE

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From Paris With Love-A Review

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by Stephanie  Waldrop

John Travolta is back in action in the new movie, “From Paris with Love.”  John plays a shaved head, cocaine sniffing Secret Agent Charlie Wax who has been sent to Paris to stop a terrorist attack… Along for the ride is James Reese, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Reese is a low key spy who was always hoping for a high key job and he gets just that when he’s paired up with Charlie, which begins them into a terrorist conspiracy. Director  Pierre Morel (who also directed Taken) seems like he’s just focusing on Cinematography and violence.

It’s nice to be watching a movie and seeing the beautiful sites of Paris, but you need more to a film. The camera-work used during the fight scenes is just horrific. It really hurts to see a movie with such action have poor shots. It really creates a bad movie. What didn’t lapse was the action. But too much action can be possible. This movie is just over-the-top. Don’t get me wrong, I love a fast-pace movie as the next person, but at the end of this one, I had a headache! Not to forget that half the town gets killed before the movie is half over. Overall, if you’re a fan of Travolta I say wait till it goes onto DVD. This might be the last thrill ride movie he’ll do.

If not, go see Avatar for the 5th time. I’ll say one thing: If Travolta wasn’t in this movie; it wouldn’t be worth even mentioning. His co-star lacks mostly everything.  From Paris with Love is just another movie that could of been, but wasn’t.

cast members, movies, youth media

Twilight: New Moon Review

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by Vanessa Paredes

It’s here. The highly anticipated, overly hyped, oh so talked about film: New Moon. The second installment of the Twilight Saga hit the big screen this November and you can bet your life savings that the lines were outrageous and theaters were sold out all over the nation. Fully equipped with a new director (Chris Weitz), New Moon definitely out staged the production of Twilight, but not by a long shot. If one thing is for certain though, it’s that Edward Cullen is about to blend into the shadows and a new obsession will arise; his name is Jacob Black.

In New Moon, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) couldn’t be more awkward with each other, and there is a reason behind it. Edward plans to leave forks and Bella behind. He does so early into the film, and the “break up” shakes up the story line, bringing forward Jacob black (Taylor Lautner) to our attention.  Once Bella really starts warming up to her new “friend” another fantastical secret is unraveled. Vampires are not the only non-humans roaming around Forks; Jacob and his “clan” take the form of wolves in order to “protect” the town from vampires, or at least the evil kind. Naturally, Jacob falls in love with Bella while Edward is absent, and this creates a chaotic love triangle that will be a major theme in the movies to come. Just when it seems like Bella is finally warming up to the idea of liking Jacob back, Edward is forcefully engrained back on to her feeble mind when he makes a phone call to the Swan residence for the first time after his disappearance.

Bella gets on a plane to Italy faster than you can say vampires are not real, in attempts to save her soul mate from killing himself. Edward had been misinformed that Bella had passed away, and finds only one solution: plead with the Volturi (Organized coven of vampires) to take his life, which is no easy task, being a vampire and all. The Volturi consisted of the best actors in the film, including big shots such as Dakota Fanning playing Jane, and Michael Sheen as Aro. How the movie ends is yours to figure out.

New Moon shouldn’t break a sweat impressing the teenage female population. Weitz incorporates all the right elements, and some of the scenes are beautifully done. Although the movie does lack decent actors, because let’s face it, Robert Pattinson can’t act to save his life, the movie-goers will still sink their teeth into this vampire fantasy flick. In addition the film was successful in staying true to the book, which will hopefully keep the Twi-hard’s complaints to a minimum.  So get those movie tickets and enjoy the era’s newest craze.