Joni Mitchell Gives Surprise Performance At Newport Folk Festival
Joni Mitchell surprised the crowd at Newport Folk Festival yesterday (24 July) by performing a full set. The show follows Mitchell’s performance earlier this year at the MusiCares Person Of The Year event in her honour, which was her first live appearance since 2013.
The event was dubbed the “Joni Jam” and saw Mitchell duetting with a host of musicians, including Brandi Carlisle, Marcus Mumford, Taylor Goldsmith, Celisse Henderson and Wynonna Judd. Carlisle and Mitchell sang classics from the latter’s back catalogue including A Case of You and Both Sides Now. Mitchell also stood to play the guitar part of Just Like This Train, to rapturous applause from the audience. As well as playing her own hits, Mitchell performed an eclectic selection of covers, including Leiber & Stoller’s Love Potion No 9, George Gershwin’s Summertime and Why Do Fools Fall In Love, made famous by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers.
After a period of recuperation following a brain aneurism in 2015, this year has seen Mitchell make a tentative return to the spotlight. Mitchell was honoured as MusiCares’ Person of the Year during this year’s Grammy weekend, where she also gave a brief performance alongside the musicians honouring her. She also accepted a Grammy for Best Historical Album and appeared during the televised program. Earlier this year, she joined Neil Young in removing her music from Spotify.
“Joni Jam” setlist, 24 July 2022, Newport Folk Fesival
Carey
Come in From the Cold (with Taylor Goldsmith)
Help Me (with Celisse Henderson)
A Case of You (with Marcus Mumford and Brandi Carlile)
Big Yellow Taxi (with Brandi Carlile)
Just Like This Train (Joni on electric guitar)
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers cover)
Amelia (with Taylor Goldsmith)
Love Potion #9
Shine
Summertime (George Gershwin cover)
Both Sides Now
The Circle Game (with Wynonna Judd)