Especially considering the fact that he was better known for his huge blond blow out, brief Ashlee Simpson romance and a stint as Audrina Patridge’s main squeeze on “The Hills” than he ever was for his music. Nonetheless, a decent amount of Rowan students came out to the free concert held in the pit this past Saturday.

Cabrera took the stage around 11 p.m. and opened with “40 Kinds of Sadness,” probably to describe his feelings about going from a reality TV regular and former top 40 artist to playing a free concert at RAH.

Despite the fact that Cabrera has been largely absent from the popular music scene for several years and the fact that his new brunette blow out leaves him looking like Jimmy Neutron, his set was not bad at all.

It also turns out Cabrera has a pretty good sense of humor. “I realize it’s about two months past due that I get a haircut,” he told the audience in an effort to explain the Neutron do.

Cabrera had a good amount of stage presence and energy, enough to wake the crowd which was half asleep waiting for him. He played all of his better known songs including “Shame On Me,” “True” and “Shine On.” Of course, for Ryan Cabrera, “better known songs” means that a dozen or so audience members were able to sing along to their choruses.

Towards the end of his set, Cabrera did a couple mini-covers starting with an acoustic version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Bad hair and dwindling music career aside, he is actually a very talented guitarist. He then did a mash up of Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” and Hanson’s “MMMBop.” Cute mash-ups always seem to be crowd-pleasers, especially when they involve Hanson.

Even though people were yelling for him to play “On the Way Down” from the back of the student center for his entire set, most of the audience seemed to enjoy the show. Before bidding farewell, Cabrera did a cover of “What Do Tigers Dream Of?” Clearly he understands that quoting “The Hangover” is a surefire way to win over any college audience.

Naturally, he did close out his set with his most famous song “On the Way Down” to much praise from the After Hours crowd that had gathered. He received a standing ovation upon finishing his set. Ironically enough, he seemed perfectly content and even happy to be playing the Student Center Pit.

Bonnaroo has gained a reputation as being one of the greatest summer festivals in the country and an unforgettable experience for everyone who attends. The newly released 2011 line-up proves that this year should be no different.

June 9-12 marks the 10th anniversary of the festival and this time around, it’s definitely worth the 12-plus hour drive to Tennessee. This year’s line-up features some of the biggest names in music, including fantastic acts for music fans of all genres. Eminem, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys, Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, Lil Wayne, The Strokes, Mumford & Sons, Iron & Wine, Robyn, Atmosphere, The Decemberists, Girl Talk, Florence + the Machine and Big Boi are just a few of the stellar performers set to take the Manchester stages this year.

Although Bonnaroo is primarily about the music, there are dozens of other attractions booked for those who want to take a break and step inside for a little salvation in the form of air conditioning.

Festival go-ers will have their choice of the comedy tent which has previously hosted huge comic names such as Conan O’Brien and Aziz Ansari, a 24 hour cinema, a silent disco where dancers put on head phones to rock out quietly, and much more.

The infamous “Broo’ers” festival is also returning for this year’s event. Broo’ers features beer from 20 of the finest breweries from all across the country as well as a tent filled with food, live entertainment and the perfect atmosphere for any and all brew lovers that want to spend a few hours relaxing.

Bonnaroo 2011 includes something for everyone whether you’re into rock, hip-hop, indie or even if you’re just trying to have a laugh and a beer. Festival passes for the event went on sale Feb. 19 and gradually get more expensive as the date of the event approaches.

For the full line-up and list of attractions, visit bonnaroo.com.

It was by no means ground breaking or epic but it’s a story of a cute kid with a big dream. It’s heartwarming.

Though the film is promoted to be about Bieber’s road to the big time, it mainly focused on his sold out Madison Square Garden show and the weeks leading up to it. The audience is introduced to all the people behind the scenes that help empower the multimedia phenomenon that is Justin Bieber.

Jon M. Chu, who also directed “Step Up 2: The Streets” and “Step Up 3D,” was able to capture a few incredibly touching moments. In particular, a scene where Bieber’s father, who split from his mother right after he was born, comes to see him perform a major concert for the first time and watches from the audience all teary eyed.

The film is basically a documentary of all things Bieber. It bounces back and forth between footage from live performances and old video clips of when he first started singing and playing drums. It also featured the YouTube clips that started it all.

They managed to tie in the fact that Bieber is just a normal 16-year-old kid who doesn’t clean his room, whines when he can’t have McNuggets for dinner and plays basketball with his friends.

“Never Say Never” shows that Bieber is supported by some of the biggest names in music. Even Snoop Dogg sat down to discuss his infamous hairdo. A couple minutes of the film are devoted to an ode to the hair, featuring Bieber’s entourage trying to pull off the Bieber hair flip.

The film isn’t just for obsessed tweens. One teenaged brother, having been coerced in seeing the film, admitted that he enjoyed the film. “I thought I was going to hate it, but it wasn’t that bad,” he said.

That loosely translates to “I love Justin Bieber” in teenage boy language.

It’s definitely a family film, incorporating a bit of humor, heart and a whole lot of fun. It shouldn’t be called inspirational by any means, but it’s almost impossible to see it and not be in a good mood afterward.

Although the film failed to show that Justin Bieber is just a normal kid, for the most part, it’s too cute to pass up. If you like Bieber’s music, seeing the movie is a must. “Never Say Never” may not be captivating enough to convert Bieber haters, but it will keep them entertained.

If all else fails, it will at least keep them awake. This movie is loud — very loud. There are screaming girls everywhere, always. But the film proves it … When it comes to Justin Bieber, there is always something to scream about.

That means almost 9 million people across the country tuned in to see if Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi found the perfect “juice head gorilla.” There’s just something about this group of train wreck guidos that has made all of America fall in love. That is, with the exception of people who actually live on the Jersey shore and a few Italian-Americans who are offended by the image being portrayed. But come on, it’s better than “the Sopranos.” The JS cast doesn’t murder people; they just pull out their weaves and punch them in the head.

If there’s anything to be learned from the “Jersey Shore” phenomenon it’s that if you achieve enough fame you can do the most disgusting and degrading things you can think of and instead of being embarrassing, it’s hilarious. You can pee behind a bar, fall face-first into the sand and even tell a police officer to f*** off. Any criminal record you accidentally rack up will be comical and may even be made into a T-shirt. Come at me, bro.

The last episode featured Snooki joining Mike and Ronnie on the list of cast members that have landed themselves behind bars. Her stint in jail left her wanting to swear off alcohol for good, except for Pinot because “pregnant people do it.” We’ll see how well that goes.

We also got to witness some twisted JWoww logic. She forgot her own anniversary and then decided that meant she could go out with another guy. To retaliate, her ex stole her watch, money and even her bed from the home they shared. Yes, he took the bed but left two dogs alone in an empty house- what a guy.

The main thing that separates this season from the past two is a spunky little addition named Deena Nicole. Deena had the honor of replacing Angelina, the worst cast member in the history of reality TV. She’s certainly fun to watch, though I don’t know how she can go on living with herself after being rejected so many times by The Situation.

Despite the complete lack of sense and plot, there has never been a reality TV cast that intrigues us quite as much as the JS guidos. It’s so stupid that it is actually genius. On top of the show’s success, JWoww and Snooki both had books published, the Situation has a “couture” clothing line and a brand of vodka, Ronnie is the spokesperson for Xenadrine and the whole crew gets paid thousands of dollars just to make appearances at night clubs.

Three seasons in and instead of flopping like everyone predicted, the Jersey Shore cast continues to prove that no one can look away from a good train wreck.

The normal dangers posed by the Atlantic City streets can’t even compare to the dangers posed by thousands of over-excited pre-pubescent girls lining up for the Justin Bieber concert at Boardwalk Hall. On Nov. 19, I decided to take the risk without considering how intense the full-blown fever really is. Several young girls were literally climbing up pillars to see if they could see him in an upstairs window and a few more blew up pictures of his face, attached them to cardboard, and wore them over their faces. Huge Justin Bieber heads coming from every angle – it was terrifying.

When I finally fought my way past the Bieber freaks and into the venue, I quickly dashed over to the safety of the beer counter. It seemed like every dad at the concert had made the same move as me except they all looked tremendously miserable – I can’t imagine why. After an awkward exchange with the beer man who was convinced no one that was actually 21 would willingly attend this concert, I found my seats located in the upper level next to a very peppy 8-year-old. I named her Mini-Me.

As an opener, Sean Kingston played a pretty slick half hour set. When it comes to a performer like Kingston, it is easy to forget that he actually had a lot of hit songs like “Beautiful Girls,” “Fire Burning” and “Letting Go (Dutty Love).” He spent part of his set as “DJ Kingston” and pumping some current party favorites from Ke$ha and Far East Movement. I was surprised to hear Mini-Me singing the words to these songs. How could she possibly know what “gettin’ slizzard” meant?

Around 9:30 p.m., probably his normal bed time, Bieber took the stage. I truly thought there was going to be some sort of pre-teen mob scene when he popped up in a white suit and started performing his ever-adorable hit “Love Me.”

As if everyone in that audience wasn’t already suffering enough from Bieber fever, he made it worse by saying that he would “do anything to make my fans smile … anything.” The child in me was in love; the adult in me was wondering if this statement could be taken as slightly perverted. Later, after claiming he wanted to get closer to his fans, Bieber got in a floating heart and was dangled above the audience as he sang and played two songs on his acoustic guitar. If there is anything I learned from this concert, besides to fear the wrath of obsessed 11-year-olds, it’s that Bieber is actually very gifted. Throughout the show he played guitar, drums and the piano. Plus, his voice almost always sounds strong despite being right smack in the middle of puberty.

Other highlights include his performance of “Somebody to Love,” bringing Kingston back on the stage to perform “Eenie Meenie,” and his overall stage presence. He even brought a lucky tween from the audience on stage while he was performing “One Less Lonely Girl” and gave her flowers.

In addition to the musical talent and his perfectly executed wholesome appeal, the kid has got moves. Before performing his final song of the night, he even taught us how to dougie, claiming, “All the girls love me.” This was pretty obvious, especially since my Mini-Me was borderline heart attack by this point in the show.

Naturally, he had to close out the show with the mega hit “Baby,” the infectiously catchy number that sparked my own Bieber fever. Mini-Me told me I was a poser because real Bielibers have loved him since his days singing on YouTube.

Even so, there is no denying it now: Justin Bieber is a phenomenal performer and even at the age of 16, he’s already the perfect little pop star.

Denim – If you love your jeans, you are in for a treat this fall. Denim is popping up everywhere again: from cropped jean jackets and vests to bootcut, flare, boyfriend and skinnies, denim is quickly becoming fashion’s most beloved fabric again. Pair it with plaid, a T-shirt, or even a suit jacket. Designers this season want you to do everything in your jeans.

Layers – I know what you’re  thinking, layers are nothing new. But this is the season to give your layers a new kick. Mix up your usual fabrics and textures; this fall is all about mixing things that you never expected could go together. That means you can pair blue leggings with a lacy top and a leather jacket and actually pull it off.

Iron Man 2

May 7

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson

Tony Stark is back and more gripping than before as he embarks on a new action-packed adventure. Now that the world is aware of Stark’s double-life as Iron Man, he is facing pressure from the press, the government and a couple of new enemies aiming to do him in, like mad scientist Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) and the sultry super-spy Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson.) It’s already looking like director Jon Favreau’s newest Iron Man installment could rival the original $318 million hit.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

May 28

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley

When you think action/adventure hero, you probably don’t think of Jake Gyllenhaal. You will now. Gyllenhaal can transform himself into almost anything and this time he’s a super stud and epic hero. The film, based off the popular 2003 video game, has the prince (Gyllenhaal) on a mission to keep a powerful magical object (the Sands of Time) out of the hands of plotting villians. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has promised incredible action, comedy and even a little romance.

Sex and the City 2

May 28

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristen Davis, Cynthia Nixon

This seems to be a summer for sequels. This May, everybody’s favorite foursome is back and this time they’re leaving their beloved city behind for a Middle Eastern vacation. The film will take place two years after the first installment. Despite marriages and multiple children, Carrie (Parker), Samantha (Cattrall), Charlotte (Davis) and Miranda (Nixon) will always be the ultimate single ladies. If the fact that the girls are going to be trekking through the desert in their Manolo Blahniks isn’t enough of a twist, there are hints at a possible rekindling of the Carrie and Aiden romance from the show. Plus, expect a couple of celebrity appearances, including Miley Cyrus and Penelope Cruz.

The Karate Kid

June 11

Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan

Although it may be a stretch to hope that this remake will be better than the original 80′s classic, it does star Jaden Smith, and any offspring of Will and Jada has to be able to captivate an audience. Plus, Jackie Chan will be portraying legendary Kung Fu master Mr. Miyagi. The story begins with a young mother (Taraji P. Henson) picking up and moving to China with her son (Smith) who needs to learn to defend himself from a bunch of bullies. That’s where Chan comes. Even though he is starting to look pretty old these days, odds are good that he’s still got it.

Grown Ups

June 25

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock

Any comedy involving Adam Sandler and Kevin James acting like idiots is sure to be hilarious. This time their joined by Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider as they portray a group of old pals who reunite 30 years after their high school graduation at their old basketball coach’s funeral. Their big reunion shows that despite the fact that they’ve grown old, gotten married, had kids and all that boring stuff, they still didn’t do a very good job of actually growing up. A movie starring Adam Sandler acting like a child may not be the most original idea in the world, but hey, he does it well.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

June 30

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

Vampires, werewolves and a topless Taylor Lautner would have probably been enough for an enormous box office phenomenon However, in the third installment of the Twilight Saga, we get to see Bella Swan (Stewart) graduate from high school, get engaged and maybe even get her ultimate wish: to run with the vampires. The future Mrs. Cullen will surely keep twihards on the edge of their seats again this summer (despite the fact that most of them already know the ending) as she is once again faced with the impossible question: Edward or Jacob?

Inception

July 16

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page

The plot of “Inception” is being closely guarded by director Christopher Nolan and his crew, but from what I gather, there’s a team of dream thieves who steal people’s ideas through their subconscious minds while they are asleep and then use them for corporate gain. Several people involved in the film, like Ellen Page, who stars alongside Leo, promise that what we see in this film will blow our minds. But honestly, it’s Christopher Nolan’s follow up to “The Dark Knight” and Leonardo DiCaprio is the star. Do you really need any other reason to see it?

Eat Pray Love

August 13

Starring: Julia Roberts, James Franco

In a film based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 bestselling memoir, Julia Roberts portrays a married woman who realizes while trying to get pregnant that she should actually be taking her life in a completely different direction. After undergoing a painful divorce, she takes off on an around the world journey in search of the best food, religious enlightenment and the perfect man. Apparently, even with the world at your finger tips, these aren’t the easiest things to come by.

The string ensemble played a total of four songs, three of which were separated into several different pieces.

“This concert is the first and last of the semester,” said Set Rodriguez, a senior music major and the ensemble’s star violinist. “We have been rehearsing since the end of January and after this show, we are done.”

The string ensemble class is only worth one credit to these students, but it is a requirement.

“We’ve been practicing for two and a half months, but it feels like we’ve only had four rehearsals,” said Johnell Lawrence, a junior music major. “The best part of the class is the professor [George Atanasiu], he’s amazing.”

Atanasiu is a Romanian-born cellist who has played with many major orchestras throughout the world. His influence is clear over his students, especially after the phenomenal performance they put on that evening.

If Lawrence is right, four rehearsals was all the practice the ensemble needed. The evening began with their rendition of Arthur Foote’s “Irish Folk Song” and it was immediately evident that this group of students worked wonderfully together.

During G.F. Handel’s “Concerto Grosso,” Rodriguez sat in first chair for the violinists and played multiple solos throughout the song, which was divided into five pieces. Violinist Ferenc Lakatos and cellist Brian Nicholls also played solos as well, all of which were beautifully executed.

Although the audience was small, each of the songs was received very well with major applause and hollers from all over the hall. The rendition of Paul Hindemith’s “Eight Pieces for String Orchestra” was long, but it showcased talent from all areas of the ensemble.

The ensemble finished with Edvard Grieg’s “Holdberg Suite for String Orchestra.” Rodriguez stole the show again by playing another perfect solo in one of the last moments of the song.

A one-credit class may be a pain for musicians as talented as the string ensemble, but that didn’t stop them from putting on an excellent performance. At the end of the evening, audience members filed out to congratulate the students on a job well done.