​So there we have it. Whatever happened to Flaming Lips guitarist/multi-instrumentalist that caused the band to pull out of their Thursday performance at SunFest, it did not leave Drozd without access to his Twitter account (or use of his fingers?). Come back to South Florida soon, Lips.

Photo by Xavier Martin

No Iggy Pop at SunFest tonight, sorry

​In spite of what some commenters told us earlier today, Iggy Pop will not be making a surprise appearance at SunFest tonight to replace the Flaming Lips.

SunFest media rep Melissa Sullivan says regarding the flamboyant Miami resident, who theoretically could be in West Palm Beach tonight before starting a European tour on Friday: "No. Just a rumor."

Photo by Ian Witlen

​If the big, gorgeous shot of Weezer's Rivers Cuomo in front of an 80-foot "=w=" didn't already get your attention, feast your eyes on two of SunFest's most passionate fans featured in Ian Witlen's colorful slideshow detailing everything that went on during Wednesday's New Music Night.

A few more crowd shots after the jump. More »

Andrew Haagen/Corbis

This still is a really gorgeous cover, no?

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Following yesterday's announcement that the Flaming Lips will not perform at SunFest today, the band has announced that it will also miss a May 1 stop at the 2010 Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis.

We already were aware that Flaming Lips' multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd was recently hospitalized with an unknown ailment, but according to Memphis' MyEyewitnessNews.com, doctors say he is expected to make a full recovery.

A statement from Beale Street Music Festival organizers follows after the jump.

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Photo by Sean Murphy

SunFest hopefully won't get dirty for Weezer

​Due to our "production schedule" and "editorial standards," Alex Rendon's amazing article about SunFest's New Music Night ran in last week's print edition. Somehow, dude scored interviews with musicians set to play tonight at SunFest: Weezer guitarist Brian Bell and We Are Scientists' frontman Keith Murray. Both had pretty interesting things to say about the festival experience.

Key quote from Bell:

"Festivals like Reading are kind of snobby," he says. "They are not all too receptive to American bands." The last time Weezer took the stage at Reading in 1996, the audience pelted the band with a monsoon of mud balls. Bell envisions SunFest as a happier affair: "Instead of mud balls, I picture a lot more beach balls will be thrown around."

Read the rest of the article to see what kind of impressive prose Rendon throws around, and get thee to the West Palm Beach waterfront this evening to see Weezer, We Are Scientists, These United States (Q&A here), and the rest of a talented group of bands.

SunFest New Music Night, with Weezer, We Are Scientists, Crash Kings, Constellations, These United States, Locksley, and Gringo Star. 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, at Bank of America Stage and Tire Kingdom Stage, Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach waterfront. Tickets cost $30 to $65. 561-659-5980; click here.

Photo by Sarah Law

These United States' Jesse Elliott is the guy with the second-least amount of facial hair

​SunFest 2010 -- AKA a five-day injection of live music, food, art, and maybe a few beverages -- begins today at the West Palm Beach waterfront. New Times will be there all week, and updates on the fest will appear here on Crossfade. 

These United States is the first performer of SunFest 2010 -- their set begins at 5:15 p.m. today. The clever New Music Night organizers dropped "awesome band bait" to get you out of your desks early, so why not take it? The night's performers also include Locksley, Gringo Star, Contellations, the Crash Kings, We are Scientists and, of course, Weezer at 9 p.m. The full SunFest 2010 schedule is here. Get a well-priced ticket here, and we'll see you tonight.

No better way to get everyone in the mood for the revelry tonight than a banter-filled exchange with These United States' frontman Jesse Elliott. He says that his well-toured band of alt-country rockers has never been to Florida before, and that he's going to propose a duet-medley with Weezer at the show.

Read our scintillating, uncensored conversation after the jump.More »

Stay tuned for the happy ending

​Please note: Crossfade does not condone blindfolding young women, forcing them to wear noserings and bright orange underwear, and tying their limbs to a lawn chair so that a monkey can sit and watch them struggle.

That said, the Flaming Lips, a band that will be in West Palm Beach on April 29 for SunFest and should be even higher on the bill, combines these elements for the "Powerless" video, another song from last year's masterful Embryonic.

Much less NSFW than their "Watching the Planets" clip, and definitely worth a look. The lighting is fantastic, by the way.

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Photo by Sarah Law

About to become SunFest professionals: These United States

​Whoa, we were sure excited the day SunFest announced their initial slate of performers the 28th installment of the music festival, which takes place April 28 - May 2 in downtown West Palm Beach. Nas, Damian Marley, the Flaming Lips and Weezer are among the choice goodies in the batch.

After 2009's SunFest featured indie blog buzz act Wavves, the energetic post-punk of the Mae Shi, as well as Kinky, Solillaquists of Sound, the Spam Allstars, and Awesome New Republic, we figured that a similar crop of diverse and edgy acts would land on our doorsteps today.

That is not to be. Joining Weezer during SunFest's New Music Night on Wednesday, April 28 is a cast of arguably talented, but safer choices. And no Surfer Blood.


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Photo by Ian Witlen

311 performing at SunFest 2009.

​West Palm Beach hasn't had this much musical excitement since Ozzy Osbourne rolled through town. An impressive crop of national acts are set to play the 28th installment of SunFest, which takes place April 28 - May 2 in downtown West Palm Beach along Florida's Intracoastal Waterway, extending along Flagler Drive from Banyan Boulevard to Lakeview Avenue.

On to the goodies: this lineup is stacked. Although billed separately, Nas and Damian Marley will surely team up to play songs from their upcoming Distant Relatives collaboration. Weezer, the Flaming Lips and Rise Against are there to draw the youth. Best of the rest, easily the B-52's, Patti LaBelle and ZZ Top.

Also, SunFest is calling for submissions for their opening night, dubbed New Music Night, featuring Weezer:

Please suggest bands or artists that we may not have heard of, that might not be signed to a major label (or any label at all), but that you love hearing on your .mp3 player and that you think have the right sound for SunFest.   (We aren't looking for suggestions like U2, The Killers or Pearl Jam - we are looking for is an artist or band that is beginning their rise to success.)

New Times suggests Justin Bieber! If he's too busy, up the blog quotient with acts like Vampire Weekend, Kid Cudi, Yeasayer, or Joanna Newsom.

Click through to peep the full line-up, schedule and ticket information.

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