Arts & Entertainment

A&E

“The Royals” is a royal mess

By Ellen Adams | March 24, 2015

“The Royals,” the first scripted show from the E! Network, capitalizes on the American craze over British royalty and can best be described as a British version of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” While this premise has the makings of a great guilty pleasure, “The Royals” has struggled to find its footing and fails to live up to its campy, melodramatic potential. The show centers around a fictionalized version of the royal family, headed by matriarch Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley), who struggles to balance her royal duties with her role as a mother.

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A&E

Indie-Folk Powerhouse Trio Stops in Charlottesville

By Lindsay Wilkins | March 24, 2015

As a part of their sold-out American tour, indie folk band The Lone Bellow took to the stage at the Jefferson Theater Saturday and delivered a two-hour performance that gave the audience goosebumps.

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A&E

“Secrets & Lies” Proves Predictable

By Anelle Mensah | March 23, 2015

Heavy rainfall, hurried breath and sneakers stomping away at the sliding mud as a frantic Ben Crawford (Ryan Phillippe) cries out for help.

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A&E

A conversation with expert narrator Barbara Rosenblat

By Noah Zeidman | March 20, 2015

Barbara Rosenblat was prominently featured as Miss Rosa in the latest season of the Netflix series “Orange Is The New Black.” What fans of the show may not realize, though, is that Rosenblat is one of the most popular and respected audiobook narrators in the country.

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A&E

Unpacking Harry Lee's humanitarian film-making project

By Rose Montgomery | March 19, 2015

Harry Lee, a 2008 University graduate, is currently producing a documentary titled “Abaarso,” which follows the lives of students who attend the Abaarso School of Science and Technology in Somalia.

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A&E

Rocker Jessica Hernandez on Past and Future

By Dixon White | March 19, 2015

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas contains equal parts grunge rock and Motown soul.

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A&E

From Brokenness Comes Beauty

By Mary Donnelly | March 19, 2015

Author Ross Alan Hill does not consider himself an art aficionado. However, in his latest book, “Broken Pieces: Nothing Is Wasted,” Hill tells the story of how he found solace in a specific style of art known as Redento Raffinato while attempting to overcome many obstacles in his personal life. Redento Raffinato, Italian for “redeemed elegance,” is a special type of blown glass art created from broken pieces of glass that fall onto the studio floor.

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A&E

Bringing international sound to C’Ville

By Candace Carter | March 19, 2015

Dan Fedoryka will return to The Southern Friday night with his band, Scythian, giving Charlottesville’s concert-going community a welcome taste of Eastern European and Celtic folk music.

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A&E

Iran Day at U.Va.

By Elizabeth McCauley | March 19, 2015

The Persian Cultural Society will host Iran Day on Saturday in celebration of the Persian new year — called Norooz — which takes place at the vernal equinox and means “new day.” The event will feature a series of performances that showcase Iranian culture, including song and dance performances and a skit.

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A&E

A New Twist on an Old Fairytale

By Caroline Beuley | March 19, 2015

When I attended a matinee showing of Disney’s “Cinderella” I brought along a child I was babysitting so I would have an excuse in case I happened upon any of my friends at the same theater.

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A&E

Debut LP from Heems moves past Das Racist

By Maggie McCoy | March 18, 2015

Heems’ debut album, “Eat Pray Thug,” is a seething, biting rap record offering brilliant insight on social issues often overlooked by the genre.

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A&E

Latest from Purity Ring soars

By Vondrae McCoy | March 18, 2015

Alternative band Purity Ring has finally returned with its second studio album, “Another Eternity.” The duo, comprised of Megan James and Corin Roddick, has frequented Charlottesville in the past and is known for its dream pop sound and poetic lyricism.

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A&E

“Kimmy Schmidt” is a hit

By Walker Peterson | March 18, 2015

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is certainly a startling example of this.

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A&E

“Kingsman” is king of the spy genre

By Kyle Canady | March 18, 2015

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is perhaps one of the best spy films to date, delivering intense action alongside a surprisingly good deal of comedy.

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A&E

Madonna stays catchy and relevant on “Rebel Heart”

By Vondrae McCoy | March 17, 2015

After months of leaks and demos surfacing online, Madonna has finally released her long-awaited 13th studio album, “Rebel Heart.” Despite the controversy leading to its release, the album isn’t as bad as one might expect — somehow, Madonna’s music has found a way to transcend all the controversy surrounding her career.

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A&E

Kelly Clarkson delivers a hit-and-miss new album

By Jordan Best | March 17, 2015

Kelly Clarkson’s latest album, “Piece by Piece,” finds the pop rock singer playing with EDM and synthesizers, while exploring the same themes of self-empowerment and heartbreak present on 2011’s “Stronger.” Because Clarkson recycles so many themes from her previous work, the new album contains too many unexciting, mid-tempo songs that fail to impress.

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A&E

José González Stuns with “Vestiges & Claws”

By John Mattingly | March 17, 2015

Soft-spoken indie folk singer José González returns with rhythmic thumping and strumming on “Vestiges & Claws,” his first solo album in seven years.

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A&E

mtvU Woodie Awards seeks to honor new artists

By Attiya Latif | March 17, 2015

The mtvU Woodie Awards show comes to Austin, Texas late March. Established in 2004, the Woodie Awards center around finding original musical indie voices within the past 10 years.

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A&E

Heading home: The Lone Bellow’s Charlottesville debut

By Lindsay Wilkins | March 17, 2015

The Brooklyn-based country-folk trio The Lone Bellow made their Charlottesville debut this Saturday at The Jefferson Theater.

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A&E

“Empire” has proven to be a television success in just its first season

By Vondrae McCoy | March 17, 2015

It is rare to find a primetime television show with as much social relevance and gripping drama as “Empire.” A show in its own league, its first season has already broken records and is a bonafide hit.