Latest news with #GoodTime
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Country Fest artist coming to Canton. First ticketed show announced for Centennial Plaza
CANTON − The first ticketed concert at Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton will be a feel-good party. Niko Moon, who blends country, pop and Caribbean sounds, will bring his upbeat island vacation vibe to the outdoor venue Sept. 19. Hometown Jams, an Indiana-based promoter, announced the concert Monday morning. Tickets go on sale to the general public on June 20 through and at Presale tickets will be available starting June 17. Moon is a newer musical artist, releasing his first album, "Good Time" in 2021 before following up with "Better Days" in 2024. And he's already released three songs this year to be included on a new album. His music blends easy-listening pop with country music and Caribbean and hip-hop influences. Moon also draws comparisons to Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett. Popular songs include "Good Time," "Paradise to Me" and "Way Back." "Good Time" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, and the YouTube video for the song has 93 million views while "Paradise to Me" has tallied 21 million views. Prior to going solo, Moon was a member of Sir Rosevelt alongside country singer-songwriter Zac Brown and Ben Simonetti. Sir Rosevelt was a dance-pop side project of Brown of the Zac Brown Band. Sir Rosevelt released a self-titled album in 2017. Moon also co-produced the Zac Brown Band's 2015 album Jekyll + Hyde, as well as the band's 2017 studio release, "Welcome Home." The Texas native also has penned songs for Dierks Bentley Rascal Flatts, Morgan Wallen, Pitbull and others. Boasting 233,000 followers on Facebook and 337,000 followers on Instagram, the Nashville-based artist was named SESAC country songwriter of the year in 2021. The event will be the first full-blown, ticketed concert at Centennial Plaza, following a change in management of the downtown space. ASM Global, the company that operates the Canton Memorial Civic Center, is now in charge of managing the venue and booking entertainment there under a lease agreement with the city of Canton. 'The City of Canton and ASM Global are excited to combine the amazing backdrop of Centennial Plaza with the feel good, infectious energy of a Niko Moon concert," said Blake Schilling, general manager of the Civic Center. Schilling said ASM Global and the city have created a preliminary security plan with the Canton Police Department and Police Chief John Gabbard for the concert. Security will be provided by both Canton police and the Cleveland-based security and crowd management company CSC. Capacity for the Centennial Plaza concert is estimated at 2,000 people, Schilling said. The concert will be moved to the Civic Center if there's inclement weather, he said. Good music and good eats Blues Fest 2.0. New version of popular event returning to downtown Canton The concert is being presented by Hometown Jams, a company founded in 2018 that produces entertainment in communities across the Midwest. Hometown Jams says its focus is "on creating memorable experiences and connecting fans and artists ... (and) delivering big city vibes without the hassle − right in your backyard." 'Niko brings a feel-good energy that's impossible not to move to,' Tyrus Joseforsky, founder of Hometown Jams, said in a news release. 'There's no better artist to help us kick things off in Ohio than in Canton with Niko Moon − and Centennial Plaza is the perfect backdrop for what's going to be an unforgettable night.' 'This show is the beginning of something special for Canton,' Joseforsky said. 'We've had our eyes on this city for a while, and Niko Moon is the perfect way to say, 'We're here.'' Canton will be a stop on a summerlong tour for Moon, which includes concerts in Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Virginia, New Jersey, Indiana, Oregon and Texas. Moon is scheduled to perform in Fort Thomas, Kentucky the day before his Stark County appearance. Moon recently performed in Stark County, filling the second slot on June 12 at The Country Fest, a four-day country music festival that draws thousands of fans and campers to Clay's Resort Jellystone Park near Canal Fulton. Tracks included the catchy and infectiously melodic, "Boat Song," a recent single. Another 2025 release, "I Love This Beach" embodies the same laid-back, flip-flop sandal, backyard party vibe. Moon's most recent single, "Sandcastles" is a carefree island country ballad ready-made for concert crowd singalongs and arm waving. Playing under a sunlit blue sky, Moon strolled barefoot across the Country Fest stage and catwalk in a matching Hawaiian-style shirt and shorts. A yellow plastic cup was often in one hand and a microphone in the other. Moon also strummed an acoustic guitar on a few songs. Fans can expect the same relaxed atmosphere when he performs in Canton in what Hometown Jams describes as "an immersive outdoor experience." The show also will feature food vendors and cold beverages, the announcement said. Reach Ed at ebalint@ Follow on X @ebalintREP and TikTok @edwardbalint Who: Niko Moon, musical artist who blends country, pop and island sounds Where: Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton, 330 Court Ave. NW. What: First ticketed concert at Centennial Plaza, which is now managed by ASM Global, operator of the Canton Memorial Civic Center. When: Sept. 19 Tickets: Go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. June 20 through and at Presale tickets will be available from 10 a.m. June 17 to 10 p.m. June 19. For more information, go to This article originally appeared on The Repository: Country Fest artist Niko Moon making downtown Canton, Ohio tour stop
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Our Hero, Balthazar' Review: Asa Butterfield and Jaeden Martell in an Unnerving Dark Comedy About American Gun Culture
Social media identities, gun laws and the blue state/red state divide are but some of the issues touched on in Our Hero, Balthazar, the zeitgeist-tapping dark comedy receiving its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Alternately disturbing and brutally funny, and ending with the sort of capper that perfectly encapsulates its provocative ethos, this marks an auspicious directorial debut for Oscar Boyson. Not that it's particularly surprising, considering that the tyro director, who co-scripted with Ricky Camilleri, has previously produced such edgy films as Good Time and Uncut Gems. This effort, whose title is a sly riff on Robert Bresson's classic Au Hasard Balthazar, follows in the tradition of those Safdie brothers films that are designed to make you feel uncomfortable. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'State of Firsts' Review: Trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride Steps Into the Spotlight for a Doc That's More Than Your Average Political Puff Piece 'Andy Kaufman Is Me' Review: Solid but Unrevelatory Doc Uses Puppetry to Tackle the Iconic Comic 'Boy George & Culture Club' Review: An Affectionate Look at the '80s Band and Its Flamboyant Frontman That Entertains but Treads Too Carefully The title character, superbly played by Jaeden Martell (It, Knives Out), is the sort of rich Manhattan youngster with an indulgent mother (Jennifer Ehle), his own personal life coach (Noah Centineo), and a tony private school education. Social causes don't interest him, but a fellow classmate, Eleanor (Pippa Knowles), very much does. The two become friendly when they both play victims in a mass shooting simulation at their school, each covered in fake blood. Eleanor's pet cause is gun prevention, so to impress her, Balthazar, or Balthy for short, begins organizing protests and posting emotional videos on the subject online, his acting skills rising to the fore. But Eleanor quickly figures out that he's not really being sincere. 'Are you actually crying?' she asks him after watching one of his tearful videos. 'I think it's nice to be part of a community,' he says. Balthy's postings come to the attention of a young man in Texas, who taunts him and reveals his intention to commit a mass shooting at his school. In a daring stylistic move, the film then segues to introduce us to Balthy's online tormentor, Solomon, an aspiring 'supplement salesman' who doesn't even have any luck attempting to sell the guns his father gave him because they're lacking serial numbers. He's the sort of lost young man who angrily but unconvincingly denies that he's an incel. And he's brilliantly played by Asa Butterfield (Hugo, Sex Education), nearly unrecognizable with blond hair and goatee, in a revelatory performance. Convinced that Solomon will make good on his threat, Balthy impulsively travels to Texas and strikes up an IRL relationship with him, looking like a fish out of water. Despite their obvious differences, the two have a strange rapport, with Solomon teaching the urbanite how to shoot guns and telling him, 'You might be the first person I met who's weirder than me.' Balthy finds himself meeting Solomon's loving, invalid grandmother (the always good Becky Ann Baker) and abusive father (Chris Bauer). He also quickly figures out that Solomon is hardly the threat he claimed to be. 'I thought you were a school shooter!' he exclaims disgustedly. But things inevitably take a darker, violent turn that results in tragedy and a supremely ironic ending. Director Boyson expertly balances satirical social commentary with emotional truth and complex characterizations, infusing the proceedings with a Hal Ashby-style deadpan dark humor. Channeling the anxieties of a younger generation so infused by online culture that they have trouble separating fantasy and reality, Our Hero, Balthazar is very much a film of its moment. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Black America Web
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Witness Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson Like You've Never Seen Him Before In The Official Trailer For A24's ‘The Smashing Machine'
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Courtesy / A24 Today (April 29th), fans worldwide were blessed with the official trailer for A24's highly anticipated film The Smashing Machine. Continue reading to get your first look at the biographical sports drama. The Smashing Machine, which was written, directed, co-produced, and co-edited by Benny Safdie (Heaven Knows What, Good Time, Uncut Gems) stars Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson (Fast Five, Black Adam, Moana) as former wrestler and MMA star Mark Kerr. During his MMA career, he was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner, and a PRIDE FC competitor. In addition, Kerr was a NCAA Division 1 Champion as a collegiate athlete and won gold and silver medals at the World Cup and silver at the Pan American Games. The film will chronicle his illustrious career and also tackle his struggle with substance abuse, his relationships with his then-girlfriend, various training partners, and much more. Alongside Johnson, the film stars Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, Oppenheimer) as Kerr's then-wife Dawn Staples. The cast also includes mixed martial artist Ryan Bader as Kerr's longtime friend Mark Coleman; former mixed martial artist, kickboxer and professional wrestler Bas Rutten as himself; and professinal boxer Oleksandr Usyk as Igor Vovchanchyn. Alongside Safdie and Johnson, the film was also produced by Eli Bush and David Koplan. A24's The Smashing Machine will hit theaters on October 3rd! While we patiently wait for the release, check out our first look at Dwayne Johnson like we've never seen him before. Share your thoughts in the comment section. Witness Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Like You've Never Seen Him Before In The Official Trailer For A24's 'The Smashing Machine' was originally published on Source:A24 Source:A24
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘The Smashing Machine' trailer: Dwayne Johnson transforms into UFC legend Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's biopic
Dwayne Johnson sheds his signature charisma for a rawness in the first trailer for The Smashing Machine, a biopic about UFC legend Mark Kerr. Directed by Benny Safdie in his solo feature debut, the A24 film offers a stripped-down portrait of the former MMA champion — and unveils Johnson as audiences have never seen him before. Set to release on October 3, The Smashing Machine tells the story of Kerr, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion and four-time ADCC winner, whose rise to fame was matched by deeply personal battles with substance abuse and fractured relationships. The film is inspired by the 2002 HBO documentary of the same name, which chronicled Kerr's harrowing journey inside and outside the cage. Joining Johnson is Emily Blunt, playing Kerr's wife Dawn Staples, in their second on-screen collaboration after Jungle Cruise. The supporting cast includes Bas Rutten, Lyndsey Gavin, and Oleksandr Usyk. In a statement to Variety, Johnson said, 'I'm at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter… that explore humanity, struggle, and pain.' He praised Safdie for creating stories that are 'raw and real, characters that are authentic and at times uncomfortable and arresting.' Safdie, best known for co-directing Uncut Gems and Good Time, both critically acclaimed for their intensity and nerve, also wrote the screenplay and produces alongside Johnson, Dany Garcia, Eli Bush, Hiram Garcia, and David Koplan.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'The Smashing Machine' trailer: Dwayne Johnson STUNS with his transformation into UFC legend Mark Kerr
The first trailer for The Smashing Machine , the highly anticipated biopic starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, has been unveiled — and fans are stunned by the actor's dramatic on-screen transformation. Johnson appears almost unrecognisable as he steps into the role of legendary two-time UFC heavyweight champion Mark Kerr . The gritty, emotional trailer offers a glimpse into the brutal highs and devastating lows of Kerr's MMA career , as well as his personal struggles outside the ring. Directed by Benny Safdie — making his solo feature directorial debut following his acclaimed work with brother Josh Safdie on Uncut Gems and Good Time — The Smashing Machine marks a significant shift into character-driven drama for both Safdie and Johnson. Emily Blunt stars alongside Johnson as Kerr's wife, Dawn Staples, in what will be the duo's second on-screen collaboration following Disney's Jungle Cruise in 2021. The cast also features Bas Rutten, Lyndsey Gavin, and Oleksandr Usyk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The Smashing Machine is based on the real-life story of UFC fighter Kerr, who gained recognition for his brutal but distinctive fighting style which eventually won him the nickname of 'The Smashing Machine'. His fighting career spanned from 1997 to 2009, and is considered one of the most dominant figures in early MMA. A four-time ADCC World Champion, Kerr's life was previously brought to screens in the 2002 HBO documentary also titled The Smashing Machine , which delved into his battles with substance abuse and the turbulent personal life. The film is expected to offer an intense, unfiltered look at both the triumph and trauma behind Kerr's legacy. The Smashing Machine is scheduled for release on October 3. The Smashing Machine | Official Trailer HD | A24
