Sounds of Summer 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!