Joni Mitchell gave her first full live performance since 2002 at this weekend’s Newport Folk Festival. Mitchell, 78, joined country musician and friend Brandi Carlile at the festival to perform Mitchell classics including A Case of You, Both Sides Now and Big Yellow Taxi. During the 13-song set, Mitchell also performed the guitar solo from Just Like This Train.
Joining her and Carlile, who has covered Mitchell’s 1971 Blue album in full, were Lucius’ Marcus Mumford, Wynonna Judd, Blake Mills, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, and Mitchell’s bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth and Celisse Henderson — a live version of the private “Joni Jam” nights Mitchell has held at his Los Angeles home in recent years with the likes of Elton John, Bonnie Raitt and Herbie Hancock.
“I just realized that Joni is the least nervous person up here,” Carlile told the crowd.
In addition to Mitchell’s renditions of songs such as Carey, Amelia and Circle Game, the group also covered Gershwin’s Summertime, Frankie Lymon’s Why Do Fools Fall in Love and Leiber and Stoller’s Love Potion No 9. Watch videos of the performance on Pitchfork and read the setlist. down
Mitchell’s last live show was at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on November 13, 2002. He last appeared at the 1969 Newport Folk Festival on the same bill as Arlo Guthrie and the Everly Brothers.
Since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015, Mitchell has steadily returned to public life. He was present at a tribute concert to celebrate his 75th birthday in 2018 and appeared on stage as other musicians played Big Yellow Taxi to blow out the candles on his birthday cake.
To mark Blue’s 50th anniversary in June 2021, Mitchell shared a video thanking fans for “getting” an album that originally “received a lot of criticism,” meaning that its heartfelt lyrics were shared without dignity. She appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors Gala in December 2021, telling reporters, “I’m limping, but I’m doing well,” where she was among the recipients. In April, Mitchell was named MusiCares’ Person of the Year and performed briefly at the ceremony to honor her.
Mitchell is also working on a series of archive releases to share previously unreleased demos, material and covers. The first, Joni Mitchell Archives Vol 1: The Early Years (1963–1967), was released in October 2020 and included a rare new interview with Cameron Crowe in the liner notes.
In January, he pulled his catalog from Spotify in solidarity with Neil Young, who directed his management and label to pull his music from the streaming platform in support of Joe Rogan, whose podcast has been criticized by doctors to spread misinformation about Covid-19. and vaccination
“Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives,” Mitchell said. “I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue.”
The complete line-up for Joni Mitchell’s Newport Folk Festival performance
CareyCome In From The ColdHelp MeYour HouseBig Yellow TaxiJust Like This TrainWhy Do Fools Fall In LoveAmeliaLove Potion No 9 ShineSummertimeBoth Sides NowThe Circle Game