Sounds of Summer 2023

July 10–Aug. 30, 2023

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From the Purple One to a folk music legend, this year’s Sounds of Summer will bring in a variety of musical styles, all under one roof at the Jacob Burns Film Center. Starting the party with Prince’s 1987 concert film Sign ‘O’ the Times as well as his earlier movies Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon, the series will go on to explore the work of musicians and singers like Carole King, David Crosby, Selena, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and more. We’ll celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop with the iconic documentary Rhyme & Reason, explore innovations by women in electronic music in Sisters with Transistors, transport ourselves back to the heyday of doo-wop with Heart & Soul, commemorate Tito Puente’s centennial with his appearance in The Mambo Kings, and then toast the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story. Finally, we’ll close out the series with a triple screening featuring Bob Dylan as an actor in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, a performer in a series of rare shorts, and the subject of Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There.

This year, we’re trying something new with Sounds of Summer. Our cinematic mixtape will expand beyond strictly concert films and documentaries to include a few dramatic movies with music at the center. This way, we can pay tribute to artists like Ryuichi Sakamoto, Celia Cruz, David Bowie, and Selena, as well as highlight performances from Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Julie London in The Girl Can’t Help It. Plus, there will be several special introductions, one-night-only events, and even a class that will take your music and movie appreciation to the next level.

So whether you’re tuning in for The Beatles or Public Enemy, I hope everyone will find a band to jam with or a title that will introduce you to your next favorite artist. This Sounds of Summer lineup will keep you dancing to the beat all summer long.

With every ticket you buy to a Sounds of Summer screening, you’ll be entered to win one of three fabulous prize packs! Learn more on the JBFC Blog.

Want to keep the beat going all summer long? Head to the JBFC Blog to start streaming Senior Film Programmer Monica Castillo’s curated playlist, JBFC Mixtapes, Vol. 24: Sounds of Summer 2023!

SERIES TRAILER

An Evening with the Bob Dylan Center (2023) Aug. 30, 2023 Screening followed by conversation with Steven Jenkins, Director of the Bob Dylan Center, and JBFC Board President Janet Maslin Spanning decades and musical styles, this far-ranging program of short films and videos culled from the Bob Dylan Archive features…
I'm Not There Aug. 29, 2023 Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There is a biopic like few others. Instead of painstakingly recreating different scenes and moments in…
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Aug. 28, 2023 Sam Peckinpah’s revisionist western Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid may seem an odd fit for Bob Dylan to make…
Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story Aug. 22, 2023 Looking at the history of New Orleans through the lens of one of the city’s biggest annual musical events, Frank…
Skating Polly: Ugly Pop Aug. 21, 2023 Zoom Q&A with director Henry Mortensen, moderated by JBFC Board President Janet Maslin FREE FOR MEMBERS! A 10-year-old and a 14-year-old form a band, and over the years, learn firsthand about the excitement…
Poly Styrene: I am a Cliché Aug. 21, 2023 Celeste Bell and Paul Sng’s documentary on one of punk music’s unsung pioneers is part memoir and part tribute to…
Sisters with Transistors Aug. 16, 2023 Exploring women’s influence on electronic music, Lisa Rovner’s Sisters with Transistors is a comprehensive look at the music you think…
Tribute to a Musical Pioneer: Ryuichi Sakamoto Double Feature Aug. 15, 2023 Ryuichi Sakamoto was a pioneer in the field of electronic music, and continued to create new works until his death…
Rhyme & Reason Aug. 14, 2023 In honor of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary, we’re revisiting Peter Spirer’s monumental 1997 documentary Rhyme & Reason. Featuring over 80…
What's Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A. Aug. 9, 2023 Introduction by “Beatlesologist” Scott Freiman In 1964, documentarians Albert and David Maysles found themselves recording musical history while filming a visiting British band in the…
The Girl Can't Help It Aug. 7, 2023 Introduction by WFUV DJ Eric Holland As one of the first Rock ‘n’ Roll movies of its time, Frank Tashlin’s The Girl Can’t Help It is…
David Crosby: Remember My Name Aug. 2, 2023 Q&A with director A.J. Eaton, moderated by JBFC Board President Janet Maslin In celebration of David Crosby’s music and legacy, we’re bringing A.J. Eaton’s documentary to the big screen, with the director…
Selena Aug. 1, 2023 Born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas, Selena Quintanilla grew up singing at her father’s restaurant and local fairs.…
The Mambo Kings July 31, 2023 Introduction by JBFC Senior Film Programmer Monica Castillo Two Options: 6:00PM – class + screening ($25 Members / $30 Nonmembers) Or 7:00PM – screening without class ($11 Members…
In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50 July 25, 2023 Introduction by WFUV DJ Darren DeVivo Exploring the long and storied history of the progressive rock group King Crimson, In the Court of the Crimson King:…
Carole King Home Again: Live in Central Park July 24, 2023 In Carole King Home Again: Live in Central Park, director George Scott takes viewers back to Central Park on May…
Heart & Soul July 19, 2023 Screening and Q&A with Director Kenny Vance, followed by cocktail reception and performance by Doo-wop group The TeeTones in the Jane Peck Gallery From harmony to heartbreak, go inside the world of the early unsung heroes of rock and roll whose voices shaped…
Soul Power July 17, 2023 15th anniversary screening Originally organized as part of the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George…
Nothing Compares 2 U: A Prince Double Feature July 11, 2023 As one of the most popular artists of the 1980s, Prince dominated not just the airwaves but the big screen…
Sign o' the Times July 10, 2023 Introduction by JBFC Senior Film Programmer Monica Castillo Sounds of Summer 2023 Opening Night Presentation After leaving his backing band The Revolution after Under the Cherry Moon, Prince…

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