Sharon Jones’ 2013 battle with cancer is the ostensible focus of Miss Sharon Jones!, the upcoming documentary on the soul singer and Dap Kings frontwoman. But the real subject of the film, directed by Academy Award winning documentarian Barbara Kopple (Harlan County U.S.A.; American Dream; Shut Up and Sing, Wild Man Blues) is Jones’ seemingly bottomless strength and resilience, the same qualities that have propelled the former corrections officer forward through a life of hard knocks. Just ahead of the film’s release, the soundtrack is being released with the soul-drenched new single “I’m Still Here.” Against the Dap Kings’ trademark bluesy horn and pounding backbeat she gives the listener a guided tour of her life and its obstacles – “All the things I been through just to sing this song / all the people I seen come and go as I kept pushing on / I had to work as a prison guard telling men to do what they’re told / ‘cause some record label told me I was too fat, too short, black and old…” – ending with the defiant shout, “I’m still here…”
Check out the song here, and the release dates for the documentary below.
Opening dates for Miss Sharon Jones! theatrical showings:
7/29 New York, NY – IFC Center – Q&A with Sharon and director Barbara Kopple
8/05 Los Angeles, CA – Nuart Theater – Q&A with Sharon and director Barbara Kopple
8/12 Washington, DC – Landmark E Street
8/12 Berkeley, CA – Landmark Berkeley
8/12 San Francisco, CA – Landmark San Francisco
8/19 Hudson, NY – Time & Space
8/19 Danbury, CT – The Palace Theatre
8/19 Toronto, ON – Bloor Cinema
8/26 Cambridge, MA – Landmark Kendall Square
8/26 Atlanta, GA – Landmark Midtown
8/26 Minneapolis, MN – Landmark Lagoon
8/26 Denver, CO – Landmark Chez Artiste
8/26 Portland, OR – Living Room
8/26 Boca Raton, FL – Living Room
8/26 Vancouver, BC – Vancity
8/26 Ithaca, NY – Cinemapolis
9/02 Seattle, WA – Northwest Film Forum
9/16 Winston-Salem, NC – Aperture
9/16 Pelham, NY – Picturehouse
9/16 Concord, NH – Red River
9/16 Winchester, VA – Alamo Drafthouse Winchester
Top image courtesy Cole Haan
