‘Attitude’ is a loaded concept. Often, it is sold as something young people need, but older people abhor it. Juliette Lewis is among the few who have been able to use this attitude (a rebellious one here) to advantage. She has garnered much critical acclaim as an actress, and has developed a successful career as a singer in a rock band. After a number of years touring, she is back to acting, this year starring in two films: ‘Foreverland’ and ‘Hick.’

‘Precocious’ is another term that fits Ms. Lewis. At fourteen, she became an emancipated minor, and began acting in television. She appeared in the Dan Akroyd/Kim Basinger comedy, ‘My Stepmother is an Alien’ (1988), and continued gaining respect in film. It was in ‘Cape Fear’ (1991) that received wider and higher recognition: she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Many of her roles have been sympathetic characters, such as that of a vulnerable woman with mental disability in ‘The Other Sister’ (1999). Other roles are more antipathetic. Ms. Lewis has played a few intimidating or ‘hard-edged’ characters in such films as ‘Kalifornia’ (1993), ‘Natural Born Killers’ (1994), and a rocker (singing two PJ Harvey songs) in ‘Strange Days’ (1995). She is not a physically-imposing woman, but she carries such presence that her characters can seduce and scare with a subtle switch.

Her stage presence as a singer is also captivating. There is no timidity, and there is no doubt she is comfortable before a live audience. Her music is strong and energetic; her voice is expressive and can hush with a whisper or belt out the howls. She writes music of wild abandon and rebellion.

Ms. Lewis sang with her band, Juliette and the Licks, between 2004 and 2009; she has since gone solo, with a different backing band. Her latest album, ‘Terra Incognita,’ was released 2009. She has sung songs for other bands, such as The Prodigy, and has had her singing featured in films.

Last year, she appeared in four films and on a television show. Next year, there will be two more films, and she will star in the TV series, ‘The Firm,’ written by John Grisham. She has an impressive list of directors as well: Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, Kathryn Bigelow and Quentin Tarantino represent some of the many different directions of her films.

She is funny, frightening, controlled and crazy; she is always compelling. Juliette Lewis dominates acting, and she owns the music-stage, but she leaves the impression that she has always been herself. It is an intriguing blend of attitude, accomplishment and artistry many envy. And there is plenty more to come.

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Also this summer Europe is waiting for the annual edition of the Sziget Festival to come. Among the largest European music and cultural festivals, Sziget Festival is held annually in August in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, at Obuda Island on the Danube River.

For an entire week, from 8^th to 15^th of August, more than 1000 shows and performances will be held on this party island not far from the city center. A blend of music, theater, dance, visual arts, and much more will welcome almost 400.000 visitors coming from all around Europe.

From pop to rock, from folk to electro, and then metal, blues, world music, techno, hip hop, afro, reggae, alternative, jazz as well as other genres will alternate and mix over seven days of uninterrupted music and partying, delighting around 80.000 visitors per day.

Since the first edition in 1993, the Sziget Festival has become one of the favourite destinations for music and festival lovers of Europe and it also managed to attain a worldwide popularity which is constantly increasing. Over the past 18 years, the world’s greatest artists performed at the festival attracting fans that came throughout the European continent.

Among the bands we can mention Iron Maiden, Buena Vista Social Club, Sonic Youth, Korn, Faith No More, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Rammstein, Faithless, Placebo, Morcheeba, Massive Attack, The Cardigans, Franz Ferdinand, Radiohead, The Prodigy, R.E.M, Sex Pistols, Fatboy Slim, Gorillaz Sound System, Muse, Oasis and many others.

Among the singers David Bowie, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Coolio, Nick Cave, Alanis Morissette, Robert Plant , Eagle Eye Cherry, Omara Portuondo, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Manu Chao, Sinéad O’Connor, Natalie Imbruglia, Pink, Lilly Allen, Nouvelle Vague, and Tricky.

This year will be the 19^th edition of the festival and other great performances are awaited from thousands of fans. Some of the most resonant names of the world’s musical scene together with less-known and alternative artists from various countries will alternate on the several stages sited all around the 108 hectares island of Obuda. A collection of different stages from the Pop-Rock Main Stage to the World Music Main Stage, from the A38-WAN2 Stage to the Rock-Metal Stage, from the Party Arena to the Reggae Stage and World Village, and from the newest Europe Stage to many and many others.

Some of the main artists performing at the Sziget Festival 2011 will be Prince, Gotan Project, Skunk Anansie, The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Kate Nash, 30 Seconds to Mars, Kasabian, 2 Many DJ’s, Judas Priest, Good Charlotte, Interpol, The National, Dizzee Rascal, Richie Hawtin, Manic Street Preachers, Goran Bregovic and The Wedding and Funeral Band, Gogol Bordello, Hadounken!, and also Pulp.  Many others, the less popular ones, are just to be known and discovered by all music lovers.

Besides the music there is much more to enjoy, for example theater performances, visual performative and literary arts, outdoor activities and sports. It’s like an entire world within an island, a city in the city on the Danube, the largest river of Europe.

For the ones who don’t want to miss even a minute of the festival and want to immerse themselves deeply  in its magical atmosphere, it’s possible to buy a camping ticket and camp on the island for the whole week. You just need to bring a tent and you may take advantage of the camping facilities. For the ones who want to enjoy the city as well there is the non-camping ticket which enable you to join all the concerts and shows and to freely go around the island. For those who want only to follow their favourite artist there is the day ticket that gives you access to the festival only for one day.

Are you craving for an unforgettable experience? Just go to Sziget Festival!

Image Courtesy of http://musica.tuttogratis.it/

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