Joni Mitchell performed his first full live performance since 2002 at this weekend’s Newport Folk Festival. Mitchell, 78, joined country musician and friend Brandi Carlisle 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 Carlyle – who covered all of Mitchell’s 1971 Blue album – were Marcus Mumford, Winona Judd, Blake Mills, Jess Wolfe and Holly Lessig of the band Lucius, as well as Mitchell’s bandmates Phil and Tim Hanserot and Celis Henderson: A live version of the private “Joni Jam” parties Mitchell held at his Los Angeles home in recent years with the likes of Elton John, Bonnie Raitt and Herbie Hancock.
“I just found out that Johnny is the least nervous person here,” Carlisle told the crowd.
As well as performing Mitchell songs including Carey, Amelia and Circle Game, the band 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 below.
Mitchell’s last full live show was at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on November 13, 2002. She 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 made a steady return to public life. She attended a tribute concert in honor of her 75th birthday in 2018 and appeared on stage while other musicians performed Big Yellow Taxi to blow out the candles on her birthday cake.
To mark Blue’s 50th anniversary in June 2021, Mitchell shared a video thanking fans for “getting” an album that initially “came in for a lot of criticism” – namely that her outspoken lyrics were unworthy sharing. 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 Person of the Year by MusiCares and performed a short performance at the ceremony in her honor.
Mitchell is also working on a series of archive releases to share demos, previously unheard material and covers. The first, Joni Mitchell Archives Vol 1: The Early Years (1963–1967), was released in October 2020 and featured a rare new interview by Cameron Crowe in the liner notes.
In January, she removed her catalog from Spotify in solidarity with Neil Young, who ordered his management and label to remove his music from the streaming platform over her support for Joe Rogan, whose podcast has been criticized by doctors for spreading Covid misinformation -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 full setlist from Joni Mitchell’s performance at the Newport Folk Festival
CareyCome In From The ColdHelp MeCase of YouBig Yellow TaxiJust Like This TrainWhy Do Fools Fall In LoveAmeliaLove Potion No 9ShineSummertimeBoth Sides NowThe Circle Game
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