Latest news with #RiffRaff
Calgary Herald
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
'I was always a searcher': Jackson and the Janks to bring New Orleans inspired 'garage gospel' to Calgary
Article content In his early 20s, Jackson Lynch decided he needed to live in New Orleans if he wanted to make a go of a music career. Article content It wasn't as if he was living in the boonies before that. He was a New Yorker who would attend all-ages, hardcore punk shows in the underground clubs of the Lower East Side. But on his frequent trips to the Big Easy, he felt a new world opening up musically. It had the same fierce DIY spirit as hardcore, even if it didn't much sound like it. Article content Article content 'I was in my early 20s and was like, 'Damn, if I'm going to take music seriously for my life, this is where I gotta be,' ' he says. 'So I picked it all up and went down there and was there for many years. It was the brokest I've ever been in my life, but I was the richest I've ever been in my life creatively.' Article content Article content Initially, he would busk every day in the French Quarter. It put him in touch with fellow musicians. That included future Grammy winner and 2025 Calgary Folk Music Festival headliner Sierra Ferrell. He met up with ragtime band Tuba Skinny and the members of Hurrah for the Riff Raff. Article content 'I would bring my fiddle out every day,' he says. 'I was so broke, man. I would go out at 9 a.m. every day, and I would play the fiddle in front of this cafe. I would make like $40. And I was like, 'Hell, yeah! I'm good for the day.' Later in the day, he would jam with jazz bands on Royal Street. Article content 'I really cut my teeth,' says Lynch, whose band Jackson and the Janks will be making its Canadian debut on Saturday as part of East Town Get Down in Calgary. Article content Lynch is back in Brooklyn these days, but New Orleans is where Jackson and the Janks were born. Lynch eventually picked up an electric guitar and began creating a distinct 'garage gospel' sound that brought in various musical threads from New Orleans. The band's self-titled debut was recorded over several years in New Orleans and released in 2023. It has three originals by Lynch, but most of the material is old gospel standards and obscurities that the Janks re-envisioned in the studio. Article content That includes a Kinks-like run through Give an Account, which Lynch first heard as an old field recording by sisters Dorothy Lee, Norma Jean and Shirley Marie Johnson. Sleep On, Mother, a song that originated with an a cappella group called the Silver Leaf Quartette of Norfolk that performed spiritual music in the 1920s and 1930s.
TimesLIVE
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Comedy and anti-heroes on the big screen, and Helen Zille in the roast seat
Spotlight is our bite-sized entertainment snapshot featuring new releases in South Africa, exclusive film trailers and more. New episodes come out every Thursday on Sunday Times Lifestyle, Sowetan Entertainment and YouTube, plus you can follow Spotlight on Facebook. Spotlight's episode this week features a new comedy thriller and Marvel Universe release at cinemas, and what promises to be the biggest African comedy festival in 2025. When crime runs in the family and the cast includes Jennifer Coolidge and Bill Murray, you know it will also involve comedy. In Riff Raff, a former criminal is enjoying a normal life with his wife and son when his past catches up with him. He learns notorious gangsters are coming to get him. Satirical and absurd at times, Riff Raff co-stars Gabrielle Union, Ed Harris and Dustin Hoffman, and is on at cinemas. Critics are hailing Thunderbolts as the best Marvel Cinematic Universe film in years. It is receiving praise for not shying away from themes of loneliness and depression. The movie — on at cinemas, IMAX and 3D — has a ragtag team of anti-heroes and is packed with loads of action, and centres on a group of reformed supervillains ensnared in a deadly mission forcing them to confront their dark past. Starring Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Wyatt Russell and David Harbour. Good times are rolling with the arrival of the annual Laugh Africa Comedy Festival presented by Showmax. Anticipate a bolder line-up and expanded showcase featuring top comedic talent from across Africa and abroad at the Sandton Convention Centre from May 2 to 4. DA federal chair Helen Zille accepted the roast seat, and you can look forward to Felix Hlophe, Celeste Ntuli, Rob van Vuuren making sure there will be a laugh a minute. For full interviews, breaking news, trailers and clips visit our Spotlight Facebook page. See you at the movies. Presenter Collette Prince is styled and dressed by Claris by Gerrit Pienaar when attending premieres and special events. Facebook @Claris by Gerrit Pienaar/Instagram: gerritpienaardesigns. Competition giveaways Spotlight has two giveaways this week. Answer a question to win double tickets to Showmax's Laugh Africa Comedy Festival. Entries close at 11pm on May 2. Win a Thunderbolts movie merchandise hamper by answering a question. Competition close on May 7. For full competition details and the questions, go to the Spotlight SA Facebook page and DM your answers and contact details. Terms and conditions apply. Winners will be drawn randomly and notified by SMS after the competition has closed. Entrants' personal details will not be retained for marketing purposes. Winners have to provide proof of age (ID/driving licence) and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. By entering, participants agree to have their names published on TimesLIVE, SowetanLIVE and Spotlight SA on Facebook. Employees of Arena Holdings and their family members are not eligible to enter.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dwyane Wade's transgender daughter, 17, towers over stepmom Gabrielle Union at Beyonce concert
Gabrielle Union Wade treated her transgender stepdaughter Zaya Wade to the first stop of Beyoncé's 32-date Cowboy Carter Tour, which was held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA on Monday. The nepo baby of retired NBA star Dwyane Wade - who graduates from high school and turns 18 next month - easily towered over the 5ft7in, 52-year-old Riff Raff actress. Zaya (born Zion) appears to measure somewhere between 6ft and 6ft2in judging by how she looks standing directly next to her 6ft4in, 43-year-old father at an Out100 event on December 11. Last summer, Wade and Dwyane co-founded the non-profit organization Translatable, which is a digital arts initiative designed to empower trans youth of color and their families. 'My dad tries to scare any person I have interest in,' the LGBTQAI+ activist confessed to Seventeen in February. 'He's kind of intimidating. The people I've dated have all been afraid of him in the first interaction. He's gigantic and he has this deep, booming voice. But the façade only lasts for so long and you actually see his real personality. He's a teddy bear.' The Utah Jazz co-owner welcomed Zaya and his 23-year-old son Zaire during his five-year marriage to high school sweetheart Siohvaughn Funches, which ended in 2007. Gabrielle publicly announced Wade's gender affirmation, at age 12, on February 11, 2020 and she's 'instilled such a confidence in my femininity.' 'I tried to compensate in every single way, and it was so draining,' the outspoken Zoomer recalled to Who What Wear earlier this month. '[Union] was so adamant about telling me that I don't have to look or act a certain way — I can just be me. And, oh my god, I thank her every day for it.' The Nebraska-born beauty flaunted her taut tummy in a black fringed cropped tank, matching leather mini-skirt, cowboy hat, bag, and $375 Tecovas 'The Abbey' boots selected by stylist Thomas Christos Kikis. Zaya - who's currently taking estrogen - wore a white mini-dress beneath a cropped jean jacket, white studded purse, and black cowboy boots. Gabrielle - who boasts 37M social media followers - posted an Instagram video of herself proudly pointing out Wade during the concert from their VIP seats. Wade was standing next to 17-year-old Delilah Fishburne and her famous mother Gina Torres, who co-starred with Union in Netflix's 2020 rom-com The Perfect Find. Speaking of which, the Independent Spirit Award nominee also got to reunite with her Perfect Find leading man Keith Powers inside SoFi Stadium. Gabrielle publicly announced the outspoken Zoomer's gender affirmation, at age 12, on February 11, 2020 (pictured) and she's 'instilled such a confidence in my femininity' Union flaunted her taut tummy in a black fringed cropped tank, matching leather mini-skirt, cowboy hat, bag, and $375 Tecovas 'The Abbey' boots selected by stylist Thomas Christos Kikis The Nebraska-born beauty - who boasts 37M social media followers - posted an Instagram video of herself proudly pointing out Wade during the concert from their VIP seats In the fall, the Uber brand ambassador will begin her astrobiology studies at a mystery college in a Democratically-leaning blue state Gabrielle's entourage also included The Fire Inside actress Ryan Destiny, Canadian actress Nicole Lyn, and her hairstylist Larry Sims. Union is next set to produce and star as Detective Shay Williams in Justin Dyck's upcoming horror film, The Casket Girls. The married couple of 10 years - who split in 2013 - are also proud parents of six-year-old 'miracle' daughter Kaavia and he fathered 11-year-old son Xavier with babymama Aja Metoyer. Dwyane also raised his 23-year-old nephew Dahveon Morris. The Idea of You producer and Wade - who have a prenup - originally met at a Super Bowl party in 2007 before going public with their romance in 2010. In the fall, Zaya will begin her astrobiology studies at a mystery college in a Democratically-leaning blue state.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jennifer Coolidge hated being typecast as a 'trophy wife'
Jennifer Coolidge felt typecast as a "trophy wife" before starring in 'The White Lotus'. The 63-year-old actress has recalled being pigeonholed as a "spoiled wife" before she joined the cast of the hit comedy-drama series. Jennifer - who is perhaps best known for playing Jeanine Stifler, or "Stifler's mom", in the 'American Pie' film franchise - told Us Weekly: "I was just offered these sort of trophy wife parts over and over. "There would be scripts at my front doorstep. And I'd pick 'em up and I'd be like, 'Ah, I know exactly what these are gonna be.' "And sure enough, a lot of 'em were just sort of the same woman and a rich guy, spoiled wife being offered continually as if that was all I could do." Jennifer stars alongside Pete Davidson, Gabrielle Union, and Bill Murray in 'Riff Raff', the new crime-comedy film. And the actress has revealed that she relished the opportunity to work with the star-studded cast. She said: "It was all quite intimidating, to be honest. I've been very lucky and I've gotten to work with some really cool people. But I have to say I really did keep pinching myself when I was there filming." Meanwhile, Jennifer recently revealed that she received "no guidance at all" amid her career slump. The actress enjoyed huge successes with the 'American Pie' and 'Legally Blonde' film franchises, but Jennifer suffered a mini career slump before she joined the cast of 'The White Lotus'. Speaking to The Sunday Times newspaper, Jennifer reflected: "I got very odd jobs - I had no guidance at all. I didn't know how to play the game. "I played a lot of highly strung rich women, people thought, 'Oh, that's just what she does.'" Jennifer now realises that she "wasn't aggressive enough" in how she approached her career. She explained: "[In the past] I wasn't aggressive enough - if someone didn't like me or think I was talented, I took their word for it."
Forbes
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Jennifer Coolidge ‘Bummed' About Not Being In ‘White Lotus' Season 3
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: Jennifer Coolidge attends the 36th Annual Palm Springs ... More International Film Festival Film Awards at Palm Springs Convention Center on January 03, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) Jennifer Coolidge — who won a pair of Emmys for her role in Seasons 1 and 2 of The White Lotus — admitted that she's 'bummed' about not being in Season 3 but still watches the series. Coolidge — whose performance as the rich heiress Tanya McQuoid won her Outstanding Supporting Actress Primetime Emmys in 2022 and 2023. In writer-director Mike White's acclaimed dark social satire, Coolidge's character eventually marries Gary Hunt (Jon Gries) to become Tanya McQuoid-Hunt. Tanya, however, meets an untimely demise when she drowns at the end of Season 2. And while Greg turns up in The White Lotus Season 3 — which is set in Thailand — only mere mentions have made about Tanya so far. In a recent Zoom conversation to discuss her latest film Riff Raff — which debuted on digital streaming on Friday — Coolidge said she clearly understands why Tanya can't appear in the latest series about the guests at The White Lotus worldwide chain of luxury resorts, but that doesn't mean she can't she miss being in the show. 'I'm bummed. I'm bummed just because this season is phenomenal and you never want The White Lotus train to end,' Coolidge said, adding with her impeccable gift of comedic delivery, 'I guess when they kill you, it ends.' Jennifer Coolidge — whose first screen credit came in a guest role in a 1993 episode of Seinfeld — has had a prolific career on both the big and small screens with well over 100 roles. On the big screen, Coolidge's credits include director Christopher Guest's comedy-style mock-documentaries Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration and Mascots, as well as American Pie, Legally Blonde and A Cinderella Story. Coolidge has also made dozens of appearances on TV and streaming, including starring turns in the Friends spinoff sitcom Joey, as well as Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's mystery thriller miniseries The Watcher. Coolidge, who plays Ruth, the tough-talking ex-wife an ex-hitman (Ed Harris) in Riff Raff, said she was thrilled for the opportunity to play a different sort of character in the dark crime comedy. In fact, she said, the role evoked the same sort of feelings she had when she was asked by Mike White to play Tanya in The White Lotus. And while The White Lotus is in Coolidge's past as an actor, it is very much a part of her life as a faithful viewer. 'It was by far one of the best jobs I've ever had … To do two seasons of The White Lotus, what a gift,' Coolidge said. 'I think the new cast is fascinating. [I watch the new season] with all my friends. It's about getting a whole group of people together and watching these episodes because we're so enthralled by Mike White's writing and all the weird stuff that happens at the White Lotuses.' And much like the unpredictability of the first two seasons of The White Lotus, Coolidge loves the idea of not knowing what's going to happen next in Season 3 'It's so dark right now and interesting and creepy,' Coolidge said. 'There's some really risqué stuff that's just happened. I mean, wow. Oh, my God.' The complete first two seasons of The White Lotus — starring Coolidge — and the first five episodes of Season 3 are streaming on Max. Riff Raff is available for purchase or rent on digital streaming via video on demand on such digital platforms as AppleTV, Fandango at Home, the Microsoft Store and Prime Video.
